IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


1.0 


I.I 


aiM,  liu 


no 


us 


lUUU 


US{|2g 


1.25  III  U   III  ,.6 

^ ^ 

v    

t, 

Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


Jv 


33  WIST  MAkX  :TRIIT 

WIMTill,N.Y.  MSM 

(716)173-4503 


J,^^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checlced  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


HTI    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  peiiiculie 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


r~^  Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 


D 


D 


along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  Mure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  qua  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
iors  d'une  restau  ration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  ceia  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  dt6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl4mentaires; 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibiiographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


D 

D 
D 
□ 
D 
Q 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^coiories,  tachettes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualiti  in^gale  de  I'lmpression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponlble 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  M  filmtes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Tl 
to 


Tl 

P« 
o1 
fil 


Oi 
b4 
th 
si( 
o1 
fil 
si( 

Of 


Tl 
s^ 
Tl 
w 

M 
di 
er 
be 

rij 
re 
m 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessout. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


I 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
g^nArosit*  de: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  4t6  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  rexempiaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fllmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sent  film6s  en  commengant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  Ie  second 
plat,  salon  ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sent  filmte  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniftre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbols  —►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  Ie 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  In  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diegrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fiimte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  ntcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

■t 


K\ 


\ 


^^\^ 


..■■:--yi  .T..'"v^' 


,je^\ 


(^mttiB  llmti^rattg 
ICibrarg 


KINGSTON.   ONTARIO 


t» 


I 


/"■ 


I 

I 


DEPAETMENT  OF   THE   INTERIOR 


BULLETIN 


OF    THK 


UNITED    STATES 


Aw 
W   I 

A' 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


I 


fMf.r 


No.    39 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OPPIOE 

188  7 


-I 
o 

Ml 

CD 


f,0.     'iM 
It/* 


-  ■  -^ttiy  t.tS>|f  '^''1?U  !  "•'  I  -^ 
uk    NumlikUt  ,3..,   5i    I  Ji    I 


u 


'^^:-'.. 


\     UNITED  STATES  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 

J.  AV.  I'OWELL,  DIKECTOP. 


THE 


UPPER  BEACHES  AND  DELTAS 


OF  THE 


GLACIAL  LAKE  AGASSIZ 


1  Y 


WARREN    UPHAM 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE 

1887 


d,  z  '  ?-  ""^  •  '->  ■•^ 


i 


*i 


CONTENTS. 


Letter  of  transmittal.... 7 

INTUODUCTION. 

The  upper  or  Herman  beacli jq 

The  Norcross  beacli 12 

The  Campbell  beach 12 

The  McCanleyville  beach 12 

I  The  Red  River  Valley 12 

'   The  outlet  of  Lake  Agassiz I4 

The  northern  barrier , 15 

5  Area  and  depth  of  Lake  Agassiz I9 

I  Elevations  of  the  crests  of  the  beaches  of  Lake  Agassiz 20 


THE  UPPER  OR  HERMAN  BEACH  IX  MINNESOTA. 

From  Lake  Traverse  east  to  Herman 21 

From  Herman  north  to  the  Red  River 23 

From  the  Red  River  north  to  Muskoda 24 

Delta  of  the  Buffalo  River 29 

From  Muskoda  north  to  the  Wild  Rice  River 30 

From  the  Wild  Rice  River  north  to  Maple  Lake 34 

THE   UPPER  OR  HERMAN  BEACH   IX  DAKOTA. 

From  Lake  Traverse  northwest  to  Milnor 38 

From  Milnor  north  to  Sheldon 42 

From  Sheldon  north  to  the  Northern  Paciiic  Railroad 45 

From  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  north  to  Galesburg 48 

From  Galesburg  north  to  Larimore 51 

Shore  west  of  the  Elk  and  Golden  Valleys 57 

Beaches  and  islands  east  of  the  Elk  and  Golden  Valleys 64 

From  Garder  north  to  the  Tongue  River .< 72 

Delta  of  the  Pembina  River , 74 

Index 91 


ILLUSTEATIOXS. 

Plate  I.  Map  of  the  upper  beaches  and  deltas  of  the  glacial  Lake  Agassiz 3 

Fig.  1.  Typical  section  across  a  beach  ridge  of  Lake  Agassiz 11 

2.  Map  of  a  township,  showing  its  divisions  in  sections 21 

(391)  -l^iiUoll. 


Sir 
Bullet 
tious 
beaclu 
occnpi 

This 
datag 
preseu 
progrt 
clusioi 
of  cart 
iinlepe 
tlents 


Hon 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


i 


Department  op  the  Interior, 
I  United  States  Geological  Survey, 

f  Washington,  D.  C,  Jvu,'  8,  1886. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  for  publication  as  a 
Bulletin  of  the  Survey  a  paper  em  bodying  the  results    f  the  investiga- 
tions of  Mr.  Warren  Upham,  assistant  geologist,  upon  the  upper 
i  beaches  and  dePi  >  of  the  extinct  Lake  Agassiz,  which,  in  glacial  times, 
\  occupied  the  basin  of  the  Red  River  of  the  iSTorth. 

This  is  but  an  initial  contribution,  embracing  only  so  much  of  the 
I  data  gathered  as  from  their  degree  of  completeness  and  interest  warrant 
?  present  publication  as  a  record  of  results.    The  investigation  is  still  in 
progress,  and  the  general  discussion  of  data  and  the  eduction  of  con- 
I  elusions  are  reserved  until  its  completion.    Meanwhile  the  great  mass 
of  carefully  determined  facts  here  recorded  will,  besides  their  inherent 
independent  value,  be  of  important  and  immediate  service  to  the  stu- 
dents of  other  extinct  and  shrunken  glacial  lakes. 

Very  respectfully, 

T.  C.  OHAMBERLIN, 

Geologist  in  Charge  of  Glacial  Division. 
Hon.  J.  W.  Powell, 

Director  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  Washington,  D.  C. 

(393)  7 


I 


UPPER  BEACHES  AND  DELTAS  OF  LAKE  AGASSIZ. 


By  Warren  Upham. 


INTRODUCTION. 

That  part  of  the  extinct  Lake  Agassiz  which  lies  in  Minnesota,  so  far 
fas  it  is  prairie,  was  explored  by  the  writer  in  1879  and  1881  in  connection 
Svith  the  Geological  and  Natural  History  Survey  of  Minnesota,  the  re- 
sults of  which  are  partly  used  in  the  preparation  of  this  report  for  the 
burpose  of  giving  completeness  and  significance  to  the  observations 
jobtained  in  the  survey  to  which  this  bulletin  more  especially  relates.' 
'■  Further  exploration  of  this  lake  was  begun  for  the  United  States 
fOeological  Survey  by  the  writer,  with  Robert  H.  Young  as  assistant,  in 
tl88o,  mapping  the  upper  or  Herman  beaches  in  Dakota  from  Lake 
traverse  to  the  international  boundary,  besides  portions  of  the  lower 
shore  lines,  with  exact  determinations  of  their  elevation  by  leveling. 
lAs  the  Herman  beaches  and  deltas  are  thus  surveyed  along  the  entire 
extent  of  Lake  Agassiz  in  the  United  States,  excepting  the  wooded 
Region  of  Northern  Minnesota,  where  their  exact  survey  seems  imprac- 
ticable, they  are  made  the  subject  of  the  present  report,  reserving  the 
detailed  description  of  the  lower  beaclies  and  the  inclosed  lacustrine 
area  until  their  exploration  within  the  United  States  is  finished,  for 
■which  the  field  work  of  18SG  will  probably  sutfice. 

Discussions  of  the  history  of  Lake  Agassiz  and  of  the  causes  that 
|iave  changed  the  relations  of  surfiices  of  level  here  are  mainly  deferred 
|to  the  end  of  the  examination  of  the  whole  area  of  this  lake.  Obser- 
vations gathered  thut  completely  may  be  reasonably  expected  not  only 
|to  add  much  to  our  knowledge  of  the  conditions  attending  the  glacial 

'The  Geological  and  Natural  History  Siirv(fy  of  Minnesota,  Eighth  Annual  Report 
(1879),  pp.  84  to  87,  containing  a  general  Htatement  of  the  extent  of  this  lake,  with 
notes  of  its  beaches  and  deltas  at  a  few  points,  and  proposing  for  it  the  name  Lake 
Vgassiz;  and  Eleventh  Annual  Report,  pp.  137  to  l.'i'J,  describing  and  mapping  the 
lerman,  Norcross,  and  Campbell  beaches,  noting  the  decrease  in  the  northward 
iscent  of  the  Irke  level  during  its  successive  stages,  and  attributing  these  changed 
levels  to  the  attraction  of  the  lake  by  gravitation  toward  the  diminishing  ice  sheet, 
piis  work  in  Minnesota  was  done  under  the  direction  of  Prof.  N.  H.  Winchell,  State 
geologist,  with  the  assistance  in  1881  of  Horace  V.  Winchell  as  rodmau  in  leveling. 

(395)  0 

i 


/'<:: 


;/>W 


10 


/ 

/ 


-■     \ 


UPPER   BEACHES    OF   LAKE   AGASSIZ. 


[UULL.  39, 


1 


Area  o\ 

TILL,  SI 


Such 


period  aud  the  recession  of  the  ice  sheet  but  also  to  shed  needed  light  fiikes  w 
on  the  nature  and  relations  of  the  earth's  crust  and  interior.  ik-ater  1 

The  glacial  Lake  Agassiz  is  confldenily  believed  to  have  been  formed  feet  ab( 
in  the  basin  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North  and  of  Lake  Winnipeg  dur-  |o  feet 
ing  the  final  melting  and  gradual  recession  of  the  ice  sheet.  It  thus  breadtl 
belongs  to  the  closing  epoch  of  the  ice  age,  when  the  continental  glacier,  |>roail  \< 
subdued  by  a  more  temperate  climate,  was  yielding  its  ground  between 
I^ako  Traverse  aud  Hudson  Bay.  During  this  retreat  free  drainage 
from  the  melting  ice  could  not  take  place,  because  the  descent  of  the 
land  is  northward.  As  soon  as  the  border  of  the  ice  had  receded  be- 
yond the  watershed  dividing  the  basins  of  the  Minnesota  and  the  Red 
Rivers,  it  is  evident  that  a  lake,  fed  by  the  glacial  melting,  stood  at  the 
foot  of  the  ice  fields  and  extended  northward  as  they  withdrew  along 
the  Red  River  Valley  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  filling  this  valley  and  its  %h\^  rid 
branches  to  the  height  of  the  lowest  point  over  which  an  outlet  could  ti^itli  on 
be  found.  Until  the  ice  barrier  was  melted  upon  the  area  now  crossed  |ind  rar 
by  the  Nelson  River,  thereby  draining  this  glacial  lake,  its  outlet  was  %  or  3  n 
along  the  present  course  of  the  Minnesota  River.  At  first  its  over-  tlie  sho 
flow  was  upon  the  nearly  level,  gently  undulating  surface  of  the  drift,  ^n  the  i 
about  1,100  feet  above  the  sea ;  but  in  process  of  time  this  cut  a  channel  ^n  Dak 
125  to  150  feet  deep  and  from  1  to  2  miles  wide,  in  which  lie  Trav-  fliis  stn 
erse  aud  Big  Stone  Lakes,  respectively  970  and  962  feet  above  the  sea.  lakes  ai 
From  this  outlet  the  plain  of  the  Red  River  Valley,  30  to  50  miles  ff  Lake 
wide,  stretches  315  miles  north  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  which  is  710  feet  ^f  5  mi 
above  the  sea.  Along  this  entire  distance  there  is  a  very  uniform  con-  fqual  p( 
tinuous  descent  of  a  little  less  than  one  foot  per  mile.  The  drift  de-  tjisually 
posited  by  the  ice  sheet  upon  this  area,  together  with  that  which  may  |ble  for 
have  been  dropped  by  floating  ice  borne  on  the  waters  of  the  lake,  and  fs  an  e 
the  silt  brought  in  by  glacial  rivers  and  by  those  of  the  surrounding  Jn  Miuw 
land,  were  here  received  in  a  lake,  shallow  near  its  mouth,  but  becoming  fv'henev 
gradually  deeper  northward.  Beyond  our  national  boundary  this  lake  tiing  ag 
covered  a  large  area,  varying  froiA_lQiLta-200  miles  in  breadth  at  and  ?  The  i 
west  of  Lake  Winnipeg,  and  its  total  length  appears  to  have  been  at  posit  of 
least^GOO  miles.  Because  of  its  relation  to  the  retreating  continental  •!"  ^  ^^^ 
ice  sheetTtliis  lake  has  been  named  in  memory  of  Prof.  Louis  Agassiz,  till,  wit 
the  first  prominent  advocate  of  the  theory  that  the  drift  was  produced  to  erodi 
by  land  ice.'  lometiii 

THE  UPPER  OR  UERMAN  BEACH.  **'^^  ^^^ 

tN-ith  hi 

Along  nearly  the  whole  of  the  upper  shore  line  of  Lake  Agassiz,  a.s  \   Comi 

traced  in  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  there  exists  a  remarkable  deposit  of  till  or  u 

beach  gravel  and  sand,  forming  a  continuous,  smoothly  rounded  ridge,  ii.nd  occ 

such  as  is  found  along  any  part  of  the  shores  of  the  ocean  or  of  our  great  Remark 

tludes 

'  The  Geological  and  Natural  History  Survey  of  Minneeiota,  Eiglith  Annual  Report, 


for  the  year  1879,  pp.  84, 85. 


(390) 


pebbles 
referab 
the  bea 


[UULL.39. 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 


needed  light 
or. 

been  formed 
''inuipeg  dur 
eet.  It  thus 
ental  glacier, 
uud  between 
ree  drainage 
Bscent  of  the 
I  receded  be- 
and  the  Red 
,  stood  at  the 
;hdrew  along 
alley  and  its 
outlet  could 
now  crossed 
bs  outlet  was 
irst  its  over- 
of  the  drift, 
}ut  a  channel 
;ch  lie  Trav- 
30ve  the  sea. 
►  to  50  miles 
I  is  710  feet 
uniform  cou- 
The  drift  de- 
it  which  may 
:he  lake,  and 
surrounding 
ut  becoming 
iry  this  lake 
3adth  at  and 
lave  been  at 
continental 
'uis  Agassiz, 
as  produced 


)  Agassiz,  as 
lo  deposit  of 
iinded  ridge, 
'  of  our  great 

Luuual  Koport, 


j^ikes  where  the  land  sinks  in  a  gently  descending  slope  beneath  the 
|f  ater  level.  Usually  the  beach  of  Lake  Agassiz  (Fig.  1)  is  a  ridge  3  to  10 
feet  above  the  land  next  to  it  on  the  side  away  from  the  lake  and  10  to 
|o  feet  above  the  land  adjoining  it  on  the  side  where  the  lake  lay.  In 
breadth  this  beach,  ridge  varies  from  10  to  25  or  30  rods.  It  is  thus  a 
iTroaJ  wavelike  swell,  with  a  smooth,  gracefully  rounded  surface. 


BEACH    ORAVEL   AND   SAND. 


Till. 


^     Area  of  Laka  Agassiz. 

>  TILL,  SLIOHTLV  ERODED. 

t  SCALE,    100   FEET   TO   ONE    INCH, 

Fig.  1.  Typical  section  across  a  beach  ridge  of  Lake  Agassiz. 

Such  being  a  section  across  the  beach,  it  is  to  be  remembered  that 
^his  ridge  extends  along  the  whole  distance  that  has  been  explored, 
iffitli  only  here  and  there  gaps  where  it  has  been  cut  through  by  streams 
iud  rare  intervals — of  a  quarter  or  a  half  of  a  mile,  or,  at  the  longest, 
^  or  3  miles — where  the  outline  of  the  lake  shore  or  the  direction  of 
ihe  shore  currents  prevented  such  accumulation.  It  is  also  deficient 
An  the  shores  of  the  strait  that  occupied  the  Elk  and  Golden  Valleys 
|n  Dakota,  but  is  well  developed  along  the  chain  of  islands  east  of 
|his  strait.  There  are  similar  interruptions  in  the  beaches  of  present 
lakes  and  on  the  sea  coast;  and,  like  these  modern  deposits,  the  beach 
i^f  Lake  Agassiz  varies  considerably  in  its  size,  having  in  any  distance 
i^f  5  miles  some  portions  5  or  10  feet  higher  than  others,  due  to  the  un- 
equal power  of  waves  and  currents  at  these  parts  of  the  shore.  The 
lisually  moderate  slope  of  the  land  toward  Lake  Agassiz  was  favor- 
iible  for  the  formation  of  a  beach  ridge,  and  one  has  been  clearly  traced 
is  an  essentially  continuous  formation  along  a  distance  of  400  miles 
In  Minnesota  and  Dakota.  In  calling  it  continuous,  I  mean  to  say  that 
^'henever  interrupted  it  is  found  a  little  distance  farther  along,  begin- 
ting  again  at  very  nearly  the  same  height. 

,  The  gaps  where  the  beach  is  not  a  distinctly  traceable  ridgelike  de- 
posit of  gravel  and  sand  cannot  exceed  one  tenth  of  its  whole  course. 
in  a  few  places  the  lake  undermined  its  shore,  forming  a  terrace  in  the 
till,  with  no  definite  beach  deposit,  the  work  of  the  waves  having  been 
to  erode  and  carry  away  rather  than  to  accumulate.  In  other  places  — 
lometimes  2  or  3  miles  in  length — the  area  where  this  ancient  lake 
jbad  its  margin  is  a  marsh  or  shaking  bog,  full  of  spring  water  and  rough 
$vith  hummocks  of  grass. 

]  Commonly  the  land  upon  each  side  of  this  beach  of  Lake  Agassiz  is 
till  or  uhstratified  clay,  containing  some  intermixture  of  sand  and  gravel 
ind  occasional  stones  and  bowlders.  The  material  of  the  beach  ridge  is 
temarkably  in  contrast  with  this  adjoining  and  underlying  till,  for  it  in- 
cludes no  clay,  but  consists  of  stratified  sand  and  gravel,  the  largest 
pebbles  being  usually  from  2  or  3  to  6  inches  iu  diameter.  No  bowhlers 
referable  to  transportation  by  floating  ice  have  been  found  iu  any  of 
$he  beach  deposits  o**  this  lake. 

(397) 


i 


12 


UPPER  BEACHES  OF  LAKE  AGASSIZ. 


[BULL.  39.       j;rilAM.] 


When  Lake  Agassiz  stood  at  its  greatest  height  and  formed  the  upper 
beach,  its  outlet  was  about  75  feet  above  tbe  present  surface  of  Lake 
Traverse,  or  1,045  feet  above  the  sea.  The  channel  which  at  this  time 
"Bacribeeu  excavated  in  the  drift  by  its  outflow  was  40  to  50  feet  deep 
along  the  distance  of  about  50  miles,  where  are  now  Lake  Traverse, 
Brown's  Valley,  and  Big  Stone  Lake.  This  beach  is  crossed  by  the 
Brcckenridge  line  of  the  Saint  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Manitoba  Rail- 
way' at  a  point  about  1^  miles  northwest  from  Herman,  Minnesota. 

THE  NORCROSS  BEACH. 

Three  lower  beaches,  of  the  same  character  as  to  form,  size,  and  ma- 
terial with  the  highest,  have  been  also  noted ;  their  course  has  been 
traced  through  long  distances  and  their  height  has  been  determined  by 
leveling.  At  the  next  epoch  after  that  of  the  upper  or  Herman  beach, 
when  the  lake  level  was  again  nearly  stationary  long  enough  to  form 
a  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand  upon  its  shore,  the  outlet  had  been  eroded 
about  20  feet  deeper  than  at  the  time  of  the  upper  beach,  but  was  still 
55  feet  above  the  present  Lake  Traverse  and  Brown's  Valley.  The 
beach  of  Lal^^  Agassiz,  when  it  had  this  lower  level,  is  crossed  by  the 
Brcckenridge  railway  line  at  Norcross,  Minnesota,  5  miles  northwest 
from  Herman. 

THE  CAMPBELL  BEACH. 

A  third  series  of  beach  deposits  was  formed  when  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Agassiz  had  been  lowered  some  50  feet  more,  nearly  to  the  level  of  Lake 
Traverse.  T^HTbCach  of  this  third  stage  of  Lake  Agassiz  takes  its  name 
from  the  township  of  Campbell  (T.  130,  R.  46),  in  the  southern  part  of 
Wilkin  County,  Minnesota,  which  it  crosses  from  southwest  to  north- 
east. 

;;  THE  m'cauleyville  beach. 

1*be.,fourth  and  lowest  beach  of  Lake  Agassiz,  while  it  outflowed  to 
the  south,  was  formed  after  a  further  erosion  of  15  feet,  lowering  the 
outlet  to  900  feet  above  the  sea  and  completing  the  excavation  of  its 
channel  to  the  present  beds  of  Traverse  and  Big  Stone  Lakes.  My  first 
observation  of  this  beach  was3|  miles  northeast  from  McOauleyville(T. 
134,  11.  4H),  in  Willfiti  County,  Minnesota. 

Four  distinct  series  of  beach  ridges  of  gravel  and  sand  were  thus 
formed  by  Lake  Agassiz  at  successive  stages  of  height  during  its  proc- 
ess of  deepening  the  channel  by  which  it  outflowed  southward. 

THE  red  river  VALLEY. 

The  central  part  of  the  basin  of  Lake  Agassiz,  within  thy  limits  ot 
Minnesota  and  Dakota,  now  drained  by  the  Ited  River,  has  an  exceed- 
ingly flat  surface,  sloping  imperceptibly  northward,  as  also  from  each 
side  to  its  central  line.  The  Red  River  has  its  course  along  the  axial 
depression,  where  it  has  cut  a  channel  20  to  GO  feet  deep.  It  is  bor- 
dered by  oTily  few  and  narrow  areas  of  bottom  land,  instead  of  which 

(398) 


Its  bani 
|he  oth 
to  30  m 
fhanne 
pected 
|iundre< 
^reas  of 
llie^btg 

ihe  low 
This 
In  Dak( 
to  Wini 
Vheat  1 
Ancient 
feveral 
liouth  ei 
Ifled  bo 
the  adj( 
lormatii 
|eason  f 
as  to  f< 
through 
large  tr 

'-■  On  al 
4rift  is  i 
ft)und,  a 
The  dei 
fcpogra 
the  und< 
of  some' 
Erosi< 
and  con 
broad, r 
United 
ftlopes  8 
ward  fr( 
above  t 
Falls  to 
cJer  find 
Moorhe: 
form  of 
of  the  I] 
bead  to 
ftet  in 
Qt'  a  ter 


I 


[BULL.  39.      fill  AM.  J 


INTRODUCTION. 


13 


5d  the  upper 
ace  of  Lake 
at  this  time 
50  feet  deep 
:e  Traverse, 
ssed  by  the 
>nitoba  Bail- 
auesota. 


iize,  and  ma- 
cse  has  been 
termiued  by 
rman  beach, 
lugh  to  form 
been  eroded 
but  was  still 
Galley.  The 
•ssed  by  the 
8  northwest 


itlet  of  Lake 
evel  of  Lake 
.kes  its  name 
lern  part  of 
est  to  north - 


outflowed  to 
Dwering  the 
vation  of  its 
es.  My  first 
luleyville  (T, 

I  were  thu.s 
iug  its  proc 
ard. 

:he  limits  ot 
au  oxceed- 
o  from  each 
ug  the  axial 
).  It  is  bor- 
ad  of  which 


its  banks  usually  rise  steeply  on  one  side  and  by  moderate  slopes  on 
%\xe  other  to  the  lacustrine  plain,  which  thence  reaches  nearly  level  10 
|o  30  miles  from  the  river.  Its  tributaries  cross  the  plain  in  similar 
fhannels,  which,  as  well  as  the  Red  River,  have  occasional  gullies  con- 
liected  with  them,  dry  during  most  of  the  year,  varying  from  a  few 
hundred  feet  to  a  mile  or  more  in  length.  Between  the  drainage  lines 
$,reas  often  5  to  15  miles  wide  remain  unmarked  by  any  watercourses, 
fherbighcst  portions  of  these  tracts  are  commonly  from  2  to  5  feet  above 
the  lowest. 

This  vast  plain,  40  to  50  miles  wide,  lying  half  in  Minnesota  and  half 
tn  Dakota  and  stretching  from  Lake  Traverse  and  Breckenridge  north 
i|o  Winnipeg,  is  the  widely  famed  Red  River  Valley,  the  most  fertile 
irheat  land  of  the  continent.  The  material  of  the  lower  part  of  this 
Ancient  lake  bed,  shown  in  the  banks  of  the  Red  River  and  reaching 
feveral  miles  from  it,  is  fine  clayey  silt,  horizontally  stratified,  but  its 
fouth  end  and  large  areas  of  each  side  of  this  plain  are  mainly  unstrat- 
Iped  bowlder  clay,  which  differs  from  the  rolling  or  undulating  till  of 
|he  adjoining  region  only  in  having  its  surface  nearly  flat.  Both  these 
Ibrmations  are  almost  impervious  to  water,  which  therefore  in  the  rainy 
feason  fills  their  shallow  depressions;  but  these  are  very  rarely  so  deep 
IJs  to  form  i)ermanent  lakes.  Even  sloughs  that  continue  marshy 
Ihrough  the  summer  are  infrequent,  but  where  they  do  occur  they  cover 
large  tracts,  usually  several  miles  in  extent. 

On  all  the  area  drained  by  the  Red  River  in  Minnesota  the  glacial 
4rift  is  so  thick  that  no  exposures  of  the  underlying  rocks  have  been 
ft)und,  and  they  have  only  few  outcrops  within  this  basin  in  Dakota. 
The  depth  of  the  drift  varies  from  100  to  250  feet.  The  prominent 
topographic  features  of  all  this  region  are  doubtless  due  to  the  form  of 
the  underlyiDg  rock  surface,  upon  whi  h  the  drift  is  spread  in  a  sheet 
of  somewhat  uniform  thickness. 

Erosion,  before  the  ice  age,  had  sculptured  the  rocks  that  are  buried 
and  concealed  under  this  universal  drift  sheet  and  had  formed  the 
broad,  nearly  level  depression  of  the  Red  River  Valley,  which  in  the 
United  Stat'^''  ^s  1,000  to  800  feet,  from  south  to  north,  above  the  sea. 
Slopes  and  terraces  of  these  rocks  beneath  the  drift  cause  the  rise  east- 
ward from  this  valley  to  the  lake-sprinkled  platoan,  1,300  to  1,500  feet 
above  the  sea,  which  reaches  from  Glen  wood,  Alexandria,  and  Fergus 
Falls  to  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi.  For  example,  though  the  trav- 
eler finds  no  ledge  of  rock  in  going  from  the  Red  River  at  Fargo  and 
Moorhead  75  miles  east-northeast  to  Itasca  Lake,  it  yet  appears  that  the 
form  of  the  surface,  marked  by  two  remarkable  terraces,  is  due  to  that 
of  the  bed  rock.  The  flat  of  the  Red  River  Valley  extends  from  Moor- 
bead  to  about  6  miles  east  of  Glyndon,  with  a  slight  ascent  of  about  50 
ftet  in  these  15  miles.  The  next  2  or  3  miles  rise  200  feet  to  the  top 
Ot'  a  terrace,  which  reaches  from  south  to  north  the  whole  length  of 

(399) 


■) 


Jl^. 


w^ 


<^ 


- '  1 


r 


14 


UPPER  BEACHES  OF  LAKE  AOASSIZ. 


[BULL.  30, 


I 

ffpiIAM. 


f63 


A 


tho  Bed  River  Valley  iu  Minnesota,  though  it  is  not  all  the  way  so  (lis 
tiuct  nor  so  high  as  here.  Beyond  this  ascent  the  surface  is  again  nearlj 
level,  being  a  sheet  of  slightly  undulating  or  rolling  till,„with  arrrsF  oi 
perhaps  4  or  ITfeeF  per  mile^  throtrgh  25  miles  eastward.  Next  is  a 
terrace,  also  reaching  a  long  distance  from  south  to  north,  which  i> 
ascended  in  3  or  4  miles,  rising  about  300  feet,  to  the  White  Eartli 
Agency,  which  thus  commands  a  very  extensive  western  prospect, 
Thence  a  more  rolling  plateau  extends,  with  little  change  in  the  average 
height,  .'iO  miles  eastward  to  Itasca  Lake. 

Iu  like  manner  the  elevation  of  the  Coteau  des  Prairies,  1,500  to  2,00(i  tije  "m 
feet  above  the  sea,  and  the  terracelike  ascent  at  the  west  side  of  the  flat  JL  JqcJo! 
Red  River  Valley  iu  Dakota,  lying  at  a  distance  of  20  to  35  miles  west  Ljieg  i( 
of  the  Red  River  and  stretching  from  the  south  bend  of  the  Sheyennt  jkrQbab] 
River  north  to  the  British  line,  where  it  is  called  Pembina  Mountain,  tpiiat  ci 
are  due  to  the  contour  of  the  bed  rock,  rather  than  to  differences  in  the  |[epth  is 
thickness  of  the  drift. 

The  till  upon  each  side  of  Lake  Agassiz  has  a  moderately  undulating; 
and  rolling  surface.  Within  the  area  that  was  covered  by  this  lake 
it  has  a  much  smoother  and  more  even  contour,  but  has  been  onl;\ 
slightly  stratified.  The  action  of  its  waves  gathered  from  this  deposit  Igarlv 
of  till,  which  was  the  lake  bed,  the  gravel  and  sand  of  its  beaches ;  and  British 
corresponding  deposits  of  stratified  clay,  derived  from  the  same  erosion  iufire  e 
of  the  till,  sank  in  the  deeper  part  of  the  lake.  But  these  sediments  i^riiich  r 
were  evidently  of  small  amount  and  are  not  noticeable  upon  the  greater  Lyiucr  j 
part  of  this  lacustrine  area,  which  consists  of  a  smoothed  shset  of  till 
The  position  of  the  thick  beds  of  stratified  fine  silt  and  clay  in  the  cen 
tral  depression  of  the  Red  River  Valley  shows  that  they  were  not  do 
posited  by  the  waters  of  Lake  Agassiz,  which  must  have  spread  them 
more  generally  over  its  entire  area;  but,  instead,  proves  that  they  wert 
brought  by  the  rivers  which  flowed  into  this  hollow  and  along  it  north 
ward  after  the  glacial  Lake  Agjissiz  had  been  reduced  to  its  present  rep 
resentative,  Lake  Winnipeg.  Theoccurrence  of  shells  Jjud  remains  oi 
vegetation  in  these  stratified  beds  at  McCauley  ville  32  and  45  feet  below 
the  surface,  or  about  7  and  20  feet  below  the  level  of  the  Red  River,  anr 
numerous  other  observations  of  remains  of  vegetation  elsewhere  alon;; 
the  Red  River  Valley  in  these  beds,  demonstrate  that  the  valley  was  ii  ii  „"  i 
land  surface,  subject  to  overflow  by  the  river  at  its  stages  of  flood,  whei 
these  remains  were  deposited.  Even  at  the  present  time  much  of  tin 
area  of  stratified  clay  is  covered  by  the  highest  floods,  and  probably  ni 
portion  of  these  stratified  deposits  is  more  than  10  feet  above  the  liigl 
water  lino  of  the  Red  River  and  its  tributaries. 

THE  OUTLET   OF  LAKE   AGASSIZ. 

The  excavation  of  the  remarkable  valley  occupied  by  Lakes  Traversi 
and  Big  Stone  and  the  Minnesota  River  was  first  explained  in  1808  h\ 
General  G.  K.  Warren,  who  attributed  it  to  the  outflow  from  this  aucieu 

(400) 


\  \ 


i 


[UL'LL.  30. 

way  so  dis 
again  nearly 
itb  arrisF  01 
Next  is  a 
th,  which  h 
Vhite  Eartli 
ru  prospect, 
the  average 

,500  to  2,00(1 
de  of  the  flat 
5  miles  west 
be  Sheyeniit 
Mountain, 
rences  in  the 

y  undulating 
by  this  lak( 
IS  been  onlj 

this  deposit 
>eaches;  and 
same  erosion 
se  sediments 
n  the  greater 

sheet  of  till, 
ly  in  the  cen 
were  not  dc 
spread  them 
lat  they  wen 
ong  it  north 
!  present  rep 
d  remains  oi 
45  feet  below 
Ml  River,  an( 
Bwhero  alonj; 
valley  was  n 
f  flood,  whei 

much  of  tilt 

probabl}'  in 
>ove  the  hij^l 


Ifiiam.] 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


ke  that  filled  the  basin  of  the  Ryd  River  and  Lake  Winnipeg.  He  made 
careful  survey  of  this  valley  from  Lake  Traverse  to  its  mouth,  and  his 
ai)S  and  descriptions,  with  the  accompanying  discussion  of  geologic 
uestions,  are  most  valuable  contributions  to  science.*  After  his  death 
1  recognition  of  this  work,  the  glacial  river  that  was  the  outlet  of  Lake 
gassiz  was  named  River  Warren.^ 

The  heights  of  Lakes  Traverse  and  Big  Stone  are,  respectively,  970  and 
62  feet  above  the  sea,  and  the  lowest  point  of  the  divide  between  them 
only  3  feet  above  Lake  Traverse.  These  lakes  are  from  1  to  1 J  milos 
ide,  mainly  occupying  the  entire  width  of  this  troughlike  valley,  which 
Is  inclosed  by  blufi's  of  till  about  125  feet  high.  Lake  Traverse  is  15 
|iiles  long ;  it  is  mostly  less  than  10  feet  deep  and  its  greatest  depth 
|)robably  does  not  reach  20  feet.  Big  Stone  Lake  extends  in  a  some- 
firhat  crooked  course  from  northwest  to  southeast  26  miles ;  its  greatest 
epth  is  reported  to  be  from  15  to  30  feet.  The  portion  of  the  channel 
etween  these  lakes  is  widely  known  as  Brown's  Valley.  As  we  stand 
pon  the  bluff's  here,  looking  down  on  these  long  and  narrow  lakes  and 
)he  valley  which  extends  across  the  5  miles  between  them,  where  the 
asins  of  Hudson  Bay  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  are  now  divided,  we  have 
early  the  picture  that  was  presented  when  the  melting  ice  sheet  of 
ritish  America  was  pouring  its  floods  along  this  hollow.  Then  the 
ntire  extent  of  the  valley  was  doubtless  filled  every  summer  by  a  river 
hich  covered  all  the  present  areas  of  flood  i)lain,  in  many  places  occu- 
ying  as  great  width  as  these  lakes.  General  Warren  observed  that 
ake  Traverse  is  due  to  a  partial  silting  up  of  the  channel  since  the 
outflow  from  the  Red  River  basin  ceased,  the  Minnesota  River  at  the 
Bouth  having  brought  in  sufficient  alluvium  to  form  a  dam,  while  Big 
ptone  Lake  and  Lac  qui  Parle  are  ^  lilarly  due  to  the  deposits  of  strati- 
lied  sand  and  silt  which  the  Whetstone  and  Lac  qui  Parle  Rivers  have 
ispread  across  the  valley  below  them. 

I  THE  NOETHEKN  BARRIER. 

The  northern  barrier  by  which  the  water  of  Lake  Agassiz  was  re- 
iBtrained  from  flowing  in  the  direction  of  the  present  drainage  to  Iludson 
iBay  was  supposed  by  General  Warren  to  have  been  an  elevation  of 
ithe  land  much  above  its  present  height  northeast  of  Lake  Winnipeg. 


kes  Traversi 
;d  in  18(58  h\ 
a  this  aucieu 


'  "On  cortain  physical  features  of  tbc  Upper  Mississippi  River,"  American  Naturalist, 

.Vol.  II,  pp.  497-502,  Noveiiihor,  18(18.     Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  United 

States  Army,  for  1808,  pp.  ;U)7-314.     "An  essay  concerninj?  important  physical  features 

.exhibited  in  the  valley  of  the  Minnesota  River,  and  upon  their  signification,"  with 

^laps,  Report  of  Chief  of  Engineers,  I87r).     "  Valley  of  the  Minnesota  River  and  of  the 

IMississippi  River  to  the  juncti(»n  of  th*e  Ohio.     Its  origin  considered  —  depth  of  the 

Sltod-rock,"  with  maps.  Report  of  Chief  of  Engineers,  1878,  and  American  Journal  of 

.?Scionce,  (3)  XVI,  pp.  417-431,  Pecember,  1878.     (General  Warren  died  August  8,  1832. ) 

*  Proceedings  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  Vol. 

XXXII  (for  1883),  pp.  213  to  231 ;  also  in  American  Journ»I  of  Science,  (3)  XXVII, 

January  and  February,  1884  ;  and  Geology  of  Minnesota,  Vol.  I,  p.  C22. 

(401) 


16 


UPPER    BEACHE8    OF   LAKE   AGASSIZ. 


[HULL.  89.    fJU'A" 


He  thought  that  this  elevation  was  shared  by  other  northern  portions 
of  North  America  and  that  these  regions  have  recently  been  depressed 
at  least  several  hundred  feet.  The  depths  of  the  great  lakes  and  man} 
topographic  features  of  the  interior  of  the  continent,  besides  this  chan 
nel  of  Lakes  Traverse  and  Big  Stone  and  the  Minnesota  River,  appeared 
to  him  to  support  this  opinion.  On  the  contrary,  my  belief  is  that  tin; 
surface  of  the  continent  had  nearly  the  same  form  then  as  now  and  that 
the  continental  ice  sheet,  resting  on  the  land  in  a  solid  mass  of  great 
depth,  formed  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz  and  was  the  barrier 
that  prevented  it  from  flowing  into  Hudson  Bay.* 

The  four  series  of  beach  deposits  which  mark  the  shores  of  Lako 
Agassiz  at  as  many  stages  of  its  height  are  ibund  to  have  a  gradual 
ascent  northward,  as  compared  with  the  present  level  line  or  the  sur 
face  which  a  body  of  water  would  have  now  if  confined  in  this  valley, 
As  before  stated,  these  beaches  were  formed  at  epochs  when  the  lako 
level  was  nearly  stationary  for  a  considerable  time  during  the  excava 
vation  of  its  channel  of  outlet  at  Lake  Traverse  and  southward. 

Exploration  ind  leveling  along  the  upper  beach  in  Minnesota  extended 
from  the  north  end  of  Lake  Traverse  about  25  miles  eastward  to  Her- 
man, and  thence  about  140  miles  north  to  Maple  Lake.  Through  this 
distance  it  lies  from  15  to  30  miles  east  of  the  Red  River.  The  ascent 
of  this  beach  northward  is  at  a  rate  that  increases  from  6  inches  to  1 
foot  a  mile  in  its  southern  portion  for  about  75  miles.  Farther  nortli 
its  rate  of  ascent  increases  from  1  foot  to  16  inches  a  mile.  In  all,  the 
surface  of  Lake  Agassiz  in  Minnesota  at  this  time  of  its  greatest  heiglit 
cascended  northward,  above  a  line  now  level,  125  feet  in  these  140  miles, 
from  1,045  feet,  very  nearly,  above  sea  at  Lake  Traverse,  to  1,170  feet, 
very  nearly,  at  the  north  side  of  Maple  Lake,  20  miles  east- south  east 
from  Crookston.  Through  this  distance  the  upper  beach  clearly  marks 
one  continuous  shore  line. 

Before  Lake  Agassiz  had  fallen  below  the  line  of  this  beach  in  the 
south  half  of  its  explored  extent,  it  had  formed  a  slightly  lower  parallel 
beach,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  to  1^  miles  distant,  through  the  northern 
third  of  Clay  County ;  and  this  secondary  beach,  sometimes  double  or 
treble,  was  noted  at  several  places  along  the  next  30  miles  northward, 
At  the  northwest  side  of  Maple  Lake  definite  beach  ridges  were  foriiHMl 
when  Lake  Agassiz  had  fallen  in  that  latitude  successively  about  8,  l.">, 
30,  and  45  feet  from  its  highest  level.  Yet  all  these  beaches  were  accu 
mulated  while  the  lake  remained  with  only  very  slight  depression  of 


'That  this  lake  existed  because  of  the  barrier  of  tbe  receding  ice  sheet  was  pointcil 
out  by  Prof.  N.  li.  Wiuchell  lu  his  First  Annual  Report  of  the  Geological  and  Natural 
History  Survey  of  Miuuesota,  for  1872,  p.  63,  and  in  his  Sixth  Annual  Report,  for  18T7, 
p.  31.  He  also  explained  in  like  manner  the  formerly  higher  levels  of  the  great  lakes, 
Popular  Science  Monthly,  June,  1873 ;  and  the  same  view  is  stated  by  Prof.  J.  S.  New- 
berry in  Report  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Ohio,  Vol.  II,  1874,  pp.  6,  8,  and  51. 

(402) 


1 


[HULL.  89.    IjI-HAJI) 


INTRODUOTION. 


17 


Bru  portions 
m  depressed 
es  and  man} 
)8  this  Chan- 
er,  appeared 
if  is  that  the 
low  and  that 
ass  of  great 
8  the  barrier 

•res  of  Lakp 
:e  a  gradual 
e  or  the  sur- 
1  this  valley, 
len  the  lake 
f  the  excava- 
ward. 

Ota  extended 
rard  to  Her- 
rhrough  this 
The  ascent 
5  inches  to  1 
farther  north 
.  In  all,  the 
eatest  height 
sse  140  miles, 
to  1,170  feet, 
ist- south  east 
learly  markij 

beach  in  the 
ower  parallel 
the  northern 
les  double  or 
3  northward, 
were  formed 
^  about  8, 15, 
iS  were  accu- 
lepression  of 

?et  was  iK)int«'(l 
al  uud  Nutiiral 
Report,  for  1877, 
the  great  liikvH, 
Prof.  J.  8.  Now- 
i,  and  51. 


level,  not  suflicient  for  the  formation  of  any  secoiidiiry  beach  ridge,  along 
ts  southern  part  for  some  75  miles  northward  from  Lake  Trav^erse  and 
llerman. 

I  The  Norcross  beach  in  Minnesota  has  been  explored  and  its  height 
Ineasured  through  the  same  distance  of  140  miles,  in  which  it  ascends 
northward  about  02  feet  by  a  slope  that  increases  slightly  from  south  to 
north,  averaging  nearly  0  inches  a  mile.  The  snrtace  of  Lake  Agas- 
hvA  had  fallen  at  this  time  from  its  highest  level  20  feet  at  Lake  Trav- 
erse, 50  feet  in  Northern  Clay  County,  and  83  feet  northwest  of  Maple 
Lake.  Itsfi'*'!  in  this  extent  had  been  thus  03  feet  more  at  the  north 
lliaii  at  the  soutli.  Double  and  multiple  ridges  occur  along  the  northern 
lialt'  of  this  distance  and  show  that  the  lake  level  at  the  time  of  forma- 
•iion  of  the  Noniross  beach  fell  5  to  1()  feet  northward,  while  it  remained 
!twith()ut  change  or  with  less  change  than  was  required  to  form  additional 
flunich  ri«lges  southward. 

The  heights  of  the  Cani,pbell  an<l  M(!Cauleyville  beaches  in  Miniu^.sota 
are  kmnvn  for  a  distance  of  150  miles,  in  which  the  northward  ascent 
f  the  lake  level  during  the  Campbell  stage  was  about  37  feet  anddur 
[iiig  the  McCauley  ville  stage  25  fecit.  Tlie  fall  of  Lake  Agassi>:  from  the 
|ni>l>er  or  Herman  beach  to  the  McCauley  ville  beach  was  85  feet  at  its 
|mouth  and  185  feet  near  Maple  Lake;  and,  instead  of  the  northward 
|ascent  of  the  nj^jcr  beach  125  feet  in  140  miles,  this  had  been  gradually 
l«liniinished  to  117,  110, 1)5,  80,  02,  50, 37,  and  finally  25  feet  at  the  time 
|of  the  formation  of  the  McCauley  ville  beach. 

I     In  Dakota  the  same  series  of  beaches  ar«»  found  and  they  have  been 
f  trailed  along  the  whole  or  parts  of  their  course,  with  determination  of 
itheir  elevations,  to  a  distance  about  75  miles  fiirther  north  than  in 
^Minnesota.      In  224  miles  from  Lake  Traverse  to  the  international 
jboun<lary  the  lake  level  in  Dakota  at  its  highest  stage,  during  the 
'time  of  formation  of  the  first  Herman  beach,  ascended  northward  about 
<il85  feet,  from  1,045  to  1,230  feet  above  the  sea;  during  the  time  of 
ithe  first  Norcross  beach  it  ascended  120  feet,  from  1,025  to  1,145  feet; 
|during  the  time  of  the  Campbell  beach  it  ascended  05  feet,  from  975  to 
1,040;  and  '^uring  the  time  of  the  first  McCauIeyville  beach  it  ascended 
35  feet,  from  900  to  005  feet  above  our  presetit  sea  level.    A  later  Mc- 
CauIeyville beach  shows  only  25  feet  ascent  in  these  224  miles,  or  an 
average  of  1  ^  inches  a  mile. 
Comparison  of  the  elevations  of  these  beaches  in  Dakota  and  Minne- 
Isota  at  the  same  latitude  reveals  another  very  interesting  feature  of  the 
I  levels  of  this  glacial  lake,  namely,  an  ascent  from  west  to  east  similar 
;  to  that  from  south  to  north,  bnt  of  less  amount  and  diminishing  in  a 
siifiilar  ratio  between  the  successive  stages  of  the  lalce.    On  the  latitude 
of  Larimore  and  (rrand  Forks  the  ascent  of  the  lake  surface  above  a 
If  line  iu)w  level  was  approximately  33  feet,  at  the  time  of  the  first  Her- 

BuU.  39 2 

(403) 


18 


UPPER  BEACTIEfi  OP  LAKE   ACJASSIJi 


tnuu.  30. 


;riiAM. 


n 


1 


injui  beach,  in  iil)<)ut  70  miles  IVoiii  west  to  east,  the  rate  per  iiiiU^  being 
very  nearly  half  as  nuuih  sis  from  south  to  north;  and  durin<f  the  time 
of  lorniation  of  the  later  Herman  beaches  it  diminished  to  30, 20,  and  21 
feet.  When  the  first  and  second  Norcross  beaches  were  formed  this 
asc(uit  toward  the  east  was  It  and  11  feet  in  about  00  miles,  and  dnrinj^ 
the  Cani]>be]l  and  ^IcCanleyville  stages  it  was  reduced  to  only  0  and  4 
feet  in  about  50  miles;  yet  it  continues  through  all  these  stages  ap- 
proximately half  as  much  ]nn'  mile  as  the  ascent  toward  the  north.  The 
rate  of  ascent  eastward  also  increased,  like  that  northward,  in  proceed- 
ing from  south  to  noith.  At  the  latitude  of  Wahpeton  ami  IJrecken- 
ridge,  o."*  mihs  north  from  the  month  of  Lake  Agassiz,  the  ascent  of 
the  lake  level  in  its  highest  s1ag<^  was  10  feet  from  west  to  east  in  45 
miles;  at  the  latitude  of  Fargo  an<l  IMoorlusad,  75  miles  north  from  the 
outlet,  it  was  15  feet  in  50  miles  ;  and  at  the  latitude  of  Grand  Forks, 
150  miles  north  from  the  outlet,  it  was  3.}  feet  in  70  miles,  approxi- 
mately. The  accompanying  table  shows  the  relations  of  these  beaches 
and  th«;  changes  which  took  place  in  surfaces  of  hn'el  here  during  the 
existence  of  this  glacial  lake. 

If  the  barrier  north  and  northeast  of  Lake  Agassiz  had  been  land, 
its  subsidence  to  give  way  for  drainage  northward  in  its  i)resent  course 
to  IIudso!i  liuy  would  c:;use  the  beach  deposits  of  the  former  lake  shores 
to  have  the  opi^osite  slope,  or  a  descent  from  south  to  north  and  from 
west  to  east.  These  observations  are  therefore  inconsistent  with  such 
exi»lanation  of  the  cause  of  this  lake;  but  they  appear  to  prove  that 
its  northern  barrier  was  the  receding  continental  glacier.  I  have  thought 
that  all  thedil'lerences  of  the  once  level  lines  of  Lake  Agassiz  from  our 
present  level  line  might  have  been  produced  by  the  gravitation  of  the 
water  ofthe  lake  toward  the  ice  sheet.  At  first  this  attraction  would 
luive  been  relatively  large,  because  of  the  nearness  of  the  great  mass 
Of  ice  on  the  northeast  in  Minnesota  and  northward  in  British  America; 
iut  as  the  ice  retreated  it  must  have  been  gradually  diminished  and  re- 
luced  to  a  comparatively  small  inllnence  by  the  time  the  ice  sheet  had 
Withdrawn  so  as  to  i)ermit  the  northward  dVainage  of  the  lake. 

Among  other  agencies  that  have  been  proposed  to  accou nt  for  such 
changes  are  ( 1 )  efiects  due  to  the  weighting  ofthe  earth's  crust  by  the  ice 
and  its  removal ;  (2)  the  cooling  and  contraction  of  the  crust  by  the  ice 
and  glacial  waters,  and  the  subsequent  warming  and  expansion  owing 
to  the  amelioration  of  the  climate;  and  (3)  crust  changes  of  uidvuown 
origin,  having  no  relationshi})  to  the  glacial  phenomena.'  These  several 
agencies  will  r<H;eive  studi(»us  consideration  in  my  tiujil  report,  when  a 
more  extended  range  of  observations  will  come  under  review. 


The  1 
|r.ake  T 
jthrougi 
frhe  fa 
find  lie; 
|ible  ta 
iconrse 
i)f  Red 
1 1,002  1 
^Agassi 
■;  Froii 
1)assin{. 
iRlong  t 
^jakes 
'iAgassi 
|i)onndi 
'J*aul. 
and  ne 

Whe 
(Deeded 
format 
Iind  M 
ton,  a  ] 
about 

I    Intl 
ab(Ae 
The 
part  ol 
Iward  i 
'    The 
ita  SOI 
ffisccnt 
I    The 
jits  son 
kor  tin 
%ud  to 


'  Prof.  T.  C.  (Jiiainlx-rliii,  (Jcolofry  of  WiKCOii.sin,  Vol.  T,  188:5,  )».  '2'jn,  and  Proc,  Am. 
Assoc.  Aflv.  8ci.,  iAriiuinaixtlirt  iiicctiiijij,  Vol.  XXXIF,  iHS'.l,  paj^c iJl::i ;  also,  i»aiMir  before 
PliiloHoiiliical  Socii'ty,  Wiisliiiifftoii,  Marcli  I:i,  IHHC), 

Mr. G.K.Gilbert,  American  Journal  of  Seieiiee  (:?),  XXXI,  pp.  290-2D9,  April,  18»j 

(404) 


(nuU.  Si). 


^TllAM. 


INTRODUCTION. 


10 


[•niilo  being 
iig  the  time 
),20,  aiuliJl 
formed  tins 

aiul  diirinj; 
mly  0  and  4 
!  stijges  ap- 
nortU.  The 

in  proceed 
id  Brecken- 
je  ascent  of 
o  east  in  45 
tii  from  tlie 
land  Forks, 
cs,  approxi- 
ese  beaches 

dnring  the 

been  land, 
isent  course 

lake  shoi  es 
th  and  from 
t  with  such 

prove  that 
ave  thought 
siz  from  our 
;ation  of  the 
ction  would 

great  mass 
sli  America ; 
^hed  and  re- 
oe  sheet  had 
ake. 

u  nt  for  such 
ist  by  the  ice 
st  by  the  ice 
nsion  owing 
of  unknown 
hese  several 
lort,  when  a 

w. 

f 

viul  Proc.  Am. 
>,  ]>aptir  before 


J  AREA  AND  DEl'TIl  Ol'  LAKE  ACiASSlZ. 

i  The  beaches  of  Lake  Agassiz,  as  here  described  in  Dakota  and  from 
iTiake  Traverse  and  Herman  north  to  Maple  Lake,  in  Mluiu\sota,  extend 
i|throngh  a  prairie  region  very  favorable  for  exj)loration  and  leveling, 
tt'lio  farther  course  of  the  upper  beach  turns  to  the  east  and  northeast 
lind  lies  in  a  trackless  forest,  much  of  which  consists  of  almost  iiupass- 
'^ble  tamarack  swamps.  It  is  therefore  quite  impracticable  to  trace  its 
iDourse  exactly  through  this  wilderness;  but,  from  the  known  elevation 
i)f  Red  Lake  (about  1,150  feet  above  the  sea),  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods 
;(1,(M)2  fi^et),  and  of  Kainy  Lake  (about  1,120  feet),  the  outline  of  Lake 
lAgassiz  when  it  had  its  greatest  height  can  be  mapped  appioximately. 
_;  From  the  north  side  of  Maple  Lake  this  outline  extends  eastward, 
|)a8sing  south  of  lied  Lake,  across  the  ]>ig  Fork  of  Kainy  IJiver,  and 
Jialong  the  south  side  of  Kainy  Lake,  its  height  above  Ked  and  Kainy 
^jakes  being  i)robably  about  50  and  150  feet,  respectively.  Thus  Lake 
lAgassiz  fit  this  time  of  greatest  height  reached  along  tlie  international 
|[)oundary  farther  east  than  the  meridians  of  Minneapolis  :iiid  Saint 
|^*aul.  Its  expanse  included  only  few  islands,  these  being  of  small  area 
and  near  the  shore. 

When  this  glacial  lake  attained  its  greatest  extent,  it  probably  ex- 
peede<l  Lake  Superior,  both  in  length  and  in  area.  At  the  time  of  the 
formation  of  its  highest  beach  the  depth  of  Lake  Agassi/  above  Fargo 
iind  IVloorhead  was  nearly  200  feet;  above  Graiul  J^'orks  and  Crooks- 
ton,  a  little  more  than  300  feet ;  and  above  Pembina  and  Saint  Vincent, 
about  450  feet. 

In  the  following  tabulations  the  figures  represent  the  height,  in  feet, 
abcn^e  sea  level,  where  not  otherwise  stated. 

The  letters  «,  &,  c,  d,  represent  successive  beaches  along  the  northern 
^)art  of  Lake  Agassiz,  which  seem  to  be  merged  in  a  single  beach  to 
|ward  its  south  end. 

-  The  columns  marked  north  ascent  show  the  ascent  of  the  lake  from 
jts  south  end,  which  was  at  Lake  Traverse,  and  those  marked  cast 
;lasccnt  show  the  ascent  of  the  lake  from  its  western  to  its  eastern  shore. 
i  The  successive  elevations  of  the  mouth  of  Lake  ^Vgassiz,  situated  at 
:|ts  south  end  (Lake  Traverse),  were,  ibr  the  Herman  beach,  1,015  feet; 
sfor  the  Norcross  beach,  1,025  feet;  for  the  Campbell  beach,  975  feet; 
laud  tor  the  McCaulcyville  beacli,  900  leet. 

(405) 


/♦ 


\\ 


I9d,  April,  188tj 


20 


tTPPER    ni: ACHES   OF    LAKi:   AGASSIZ. 


[rti'Li,.  3:i, 


'S  J 

■•  a 

-3  a 

f>  s 

n    « 

2   = 
5   0 

s,  J 

^  .tJ 

S  fcs 

^    a 

2  -=3 

01     •* 

1>    b 

^^  o 

=3  <" 

tc    - 

« •a 

<o  a 

—     15 

-r  » 

■^f 

t^     ^ 

•■> 

—      ©■ 

00 

13 

-^ 

jd   o 

C3   A 

^J 

M 

S  J, 

•^ 

2 

►« 

li 

•3S 

« 

a  o 

i 

1:  a 

^  <« 

V 

o  -^ 

Si. 

w    V 

o 

T.      > 

.« 

«  ® 

«  -a 

's^ 

^^ 

00 

*■   tn 

« 

a-2 

o  o 

« 

<t  Ui 

<B  'i 

a  d 

»*^ 

-  2 

to 

rt  ^ 

'S   o 

s « 

?;  "3 

o  'X3 

J3    c3 

b    <S 

,o  J 

9  .2 


« 

^ 

Ji 

1' 

^ 

a 

m 

rii 

o 

P< 

A 

a 

a 

41 

V 

c 

s 

a 

cR 

® 

r^ 
•*-» 

s 

- 

TS 

ti 

a 

to 

(-• 

I 

.i^ 

>^ 

f^ 

•n   <ii 

CO 

'^ 

1 

■c  ■^a 

ir) 

CI 

ei   <-i 

1-1 

*:  2  ro 

CI 

t.  J  — 

.«  s 

i^.S 



40  «>«     * 

■* 

^ 

ss ; 

11 

^S  : 

« 

c    I 

^^ 

'^^ 

^^        J 

~~s'  a> 

CO 

Cl 

^ 

<s 

S 

o       • 

QO 

p^ 

o 

e> 

o 

s 

2 

o 

3- 

"^  ^^ 

«9 

^ 

'c   S 

e,  ^ 

O 

« 

^ 

CI 

3 

o 

o 

3 

3 

i-« 

t- 

to 

CO 

t" 

M 

CO 

rt 

r-( 

.a 
u 

2 

.a 

_^§    __ 

■"■s  : 

<e 

M 

(— t 

"3 

S 

^1  : 

o 

■^ 

CI 

t^ 

Cl 

Cl 

•o 

CI 

OJ 

Ci 

o 

s 

o 

Ci 

o 

Ci 

rH* 

,J 

»-* 

" 

— 

ll"-^ 

__^ 

r-   1- 

^— ^     — » 

■n 

o 

g 

!r,     f 

p:  S 

M 

f-1 

iH 

^• 

SJ  5§ 

ts-  : 

'^     ^^ 

0/ 

^i: 

^^    •— « 

2 

«    ! 

• 

- 

>-    — ^ 

_^ 

CI    o 

^    ^' 

■A 

l. 

CO 

&1    5o 

CO     o 

CO 

S 

•^ 

o    o 

o    o 

s 

c 

i-    •"• 

t-H 

1-H        O 

I— I      f— 1 

1— 1 

125 

§  « 

~ 

3  5 

:?  CI 

f 

Ci     -TO 

f— <     ■■ 

y^ 

o    o 

f-T    5 

•—1 

f-T   t-T 

-rr  r^ 

,,^ 

"^    "^ 

e 

-^ 

c   ^ 

"^"^ 

^.^ 

_^       ,— V 

^ 

h-    CO    o    ^ 

__^  — » 

"^ 

^^ 

lo 

o 

c 

o 

:S?g 

§  5 

S 

o    e>    00    <0 

I  2 

o 

S 

■* 

?5 

^ 

Cl 

»^  1^  '-f 

^     —t 

<-H 

~ 

I.-5     O 
CI     -H 

g 

00 

_. 

r-     r-t 

-^  **   « 

*        • 

-^     _ 

_^ 

,_^ 

Ift 

o 

;^ 

~  S    ' 

"   £ 

s 

r-* 

i 

«li 

i    : 

CO     c^ 

CI 

CI 

_^ 

j—^    i"^ 

^.^ 

O     CO     i*     — 

-^  ~ 

^^ 

^^^ 

o 

-* 

ir 

1.-5 

O     CJ 

t^ 

«o     ■*     S?     C 

in    TD 

ou 

o 

1- 

t4 

CI     o 

00 

t-H      r-t     1-t      rH 

Cl     l- 

o 

'^" 

o 

O 

a 

C»     CI 

^H 

.    *— 1    f-* 

l-( 

f-H 

V»4 

»^     »-<     i-i"    I— 

I— t 

t— ' 

\M 

CI 

CI     rt 

i 

"e     »0     "^    ^ 

-  i  3 
s  5^ 

1- 

2 

Cl 

CO 

»-« 

r-T 

.a  ^ 

13 

£ 

o 

m     i^ 

1! 

^^ 

«    a 

a    01 

O      ,D 

%  •3 

lO     en 

-I      41 

1 » 
s  i 

■a  « 
1  "-S  2 

— •          o 
•2   ^   ^ 

pi?    r^    rt 
©    o   3 
■3^0 

-    *   '"■■ 
C    r|  -2 

O       iU 

o    u 

Pi  t 

-^   2 

1 

iH 

I' 

s 

H 

c 

4 

c« 
O 

1  ia 

C! 
tn 

o 

If 

4) 

O    a 

i  ^ 

o    a 
^   -^ 

-C    o 
o  - 

1 

^'3 

®    o 

5  « 

^^    a 

o  2 

o 

a 
0 

.s 

4/ 

3 

S) 

a 
O 

c: 
i-J 

tM 
o 

ja 
o 
en 

a 

lO 

S 

.9  -2 

4)     ^ 

a) 

3 

I.O 

CO 

«r 

to 

? 

a 

41 

1  ^  5 

.a  <.  £ 
*-  °  a 
-  1  s 

Ml 

s  "^ 
fe    a   ^ 

2  o  ii 

a 
a 
1 

e 

=•  "^ 

--,     s    '» 

^  a 

.9 

if 

■a 

.     « 

H  ^  n 

H 

ct 

ei 

CO 

CO 

H 

■* 

(406) 


T 


flll'Ll,.  y.t. 


t'i'lUM,] 


HERMAN    HKACII    IN    MINNESOTA. 


21 


t- 

i 

o 

o   o 


<1; 


i  .9  <"  A 
a  *  " 


te  « 


©  9  « 

'3  in  '2 

B  CO  S 

2  S  I-" 

a  V  i; 

o  £i  g 

-^  M  H 


1 


THE  UPPER  OR  HERMAN  BEACH  IN  MINNESOTA.' 

[Sen  the  ao'oniiiaiiyiiip;  iii;ip,  I'lato  l.\ 
FROM  LAKK   TRAVEUSE  EAST   TO    HERMAN.  . 


*  Lake  Traverst',  elovatiou  970  feet  above  tbe  sea. 

IJlutls  next  to  Lake  Traverse  south  from  the  Mustinka  Rive: ,  eleva- 

j?tiou  1,072  to  1,075  feet  above  the  sea. 

'    IJhilfs  opposite  to  tlieso  and  for  3  or  4  miles  northward,  on  the  west 

-^ide  of  Lake  Traverse,  1,090  to  1,070  feet. 

IMuff  or  ridge  forming  tlie  highest  land  between  the  Mnstinka  lliver 

Imd  the  J3ois  des  Sioux  Kiver,  from  Sec.  35  to  Sec.  13,  T.  12S,  11.47 

i(the  west  part  of  Monscn),  an  island  beach  ridge  of  Lake  Agassi/. 

Idai'iiig  its  maximum  stage,  about  1,050  feet. 

Upi)er  or  Herman  beach  in  Sees.  2  and  11,  T.  12G,  E.  47  (Walls),  1,000 

fto  1,002  teet,  4  to  5  miles  east  from  the  north  end  of  Lake  Traverse, 

Hvhere  the  steep  eroded  bluff  gives  place  to 

Hhe  gentle  8loi)e  of  the  natural  surface,  allow- 
ing the  accumulation  of  a  distinct  beach  ridge 

^of  gravel.    This  is  smoothly  rounded,  15  to 

;20  rods  in  width,  bounded  eastward  on  the 

•side  toward  the  ancient  lake  by  a  moder- 

Jately  steep  slope  which  descends  10  or  12 

ifeet,  the  land  1  ti-  4  mile  ;  distant  northeast- 
ward within  the  area  tliat  was  covered  by 
the  lake  being  20  to  4C  feet  below  this  beach. 
On  the  other  side  this  ridge  is  succeeded  by 
a  slight  depression  2  to  5  feet  deep,  beyond 

hvhich  the  land  soon  rises  10  to  15  feet  above  the  beach.    The  material 

^of  the  beach  is  gravel,  containing  pebbles  up  to  2  or  3  inches  iu  diam- 

'eter,  but  all  the  surface  elsewhere  on  each  side  is  till. 

•  Beach  in  Sees.  30  and  32,  T.  120,  K.  4G  (Croke),  passing  southeast- 
Hvard  near  the  southeast  corner  of  Sec.  30,  1,000  to  1,067  feet. 

I  Beach  near  the  middle  of  Sec.  9,  T.  125,  K.  40  (Tarrah),  1,057  feet. 
I  Its  contour  and  material  and  those  of  tiJie  adjoining  areas  are  nearly 
■the  same  as  at  the  lo(rality  already  described.  The  width  of  the  gravel 
Ibeach  here  is  25  or  30  rods  ;  the  smoothed  surface  of  till  which  descends 
I  thence  northward  is  10  to  20  feet  lower  iu  its  first  mile ;  on  the  south 
'  the  sheet  of  till  is  at  first  for  40  or  50  rods  about  5  feet  lower  than  the 
f  top  of  the  beach,  but  beyond  this  it  gradually  rises  to  a  height  10  to  25 
land  50  feet  above  the  beach.  The  average  height  of  its  moderately  uu- 
f  dulating  surtjice,  0  miles  to  the  south  at  Graceville,  is  nearly  represented 
I  by  the  railroad  at  the  depot  there,  1,107  feet. 


B 

s 

<t 

3 

::. 

H 

r 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

18 

17 

16 

15 

14 

li 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

a* 

30 

29 

28 

Z7 

Ze 

26 

31 

32 

33 

34- 

35 

36 

Fio.  2.  Map  of  a  towiisliip,  show- 
ing its  divisiou  iu  Huctious. 


^j  '  The  to\vii8liii)8  lu-rciu  rofoi  red  to  iiro  miiiiborod  north  from  tho  base  lino,  and  tlio 
'  ranges  are  unniborcd  west  from  tho  lifth  principal  lueridiau.  Tho  method  of  uniu- 
;>l)eriiig  the  sections  i3  shown  by  Fig.  2,  above. 

I  (^07) 


•>'} 


IJPl'EK    JJEACHES    OF    LAKE    AGASSIZ. 


(hull.  39. 


PHAM.] 


Tkiicli  at  Deiiwis  AV.  O'lJiieii's  lioiise,  in  the  SW.  ^  of  Sec.  11,  T.  125, 
U.  10,  1,001  to  ],O0L»A  feet.     Northwuid  from  O'Brien's,  as  far  as  tlu; 
view  reaches,  across" T.  iLMi,  II.  4(}  (Croke),  and  T.  120,  IL  ir>  (I)oleys 
nioniit),  Lake  A^assiz  was  very  sliallow,  the  sniootli  and  nearly  level 
surface  of  till  beiii^-  1,01.")  to  1,035  feet  above  the  sea. 

For  the  next  3  miles  eastward  the  beach  is  less  conspicuous  than 
usual,  in  the  northwest  part  of  Sec.  8,  the  SE.  ^  of  Sec.  5,  and  throuj-h 
the  middle  of  Sec.  4,  T.  125,  li.  45  (Leonardsville),  this  shore  line  i.s 
aj:iiin  distinctly  marked  by  a  slight  terrace  in  the  till,  descending  north- 
ward in  a,  moderately  stee[>  slope  5  to  10  feet,  rather  than  by  the  usual 
accumulation  of  gravel.  The  top  of  this  terrace  is  at  1,050  to  1,057  feet. 
The  house  of  I'atriek  Leonard  is  built  upon  the  edge  of  this  terrace  at 
tlu?  middle  of  tlie  east  side  of  section  4. 

Ucach,  low  gravel  ridge  20  rods  wide,  5  feet  high  above  adjacent  level, 
in  the  southeast  part  of  S(;c.  21,  T.  120,  li.  45  (Doleysmount),  1,000  to 
l,()(»l  feet. 

These  deterniiuatious  indicate  that  in  Traverse  County  the  surface  of 
Lake  Agassi/,,  during  its  maxinuun  stage,  Avas  very  nearly  1,045  to 
1,055  feet  al>o\e  our  present  sea  level. 

In  the  northwest  corner  of  Stevens  County  this  upper  or  Herman 
bea(;h  is  well  displayed  In  the  XW.  ^  of  Sec.  IJ),  T.  1 20,  li.  44  (Eldorado), 
having  an  elevation  of  about  1,003  feet.  Through  Sec.  18  it  is  20  to  25 
rods  wide,  with  its  crest  at  1,003  to  1,000  feet,  being  a  gently  rounded 
ridge  of  sand  and  gravel,  containing  pebbles  up  to  2  or  3  inches  in  di- 
ameter. Its  height  is  7  to  10  feet  above  the  land  next  west  and  5  feet 
above  the  depression  next  east.  The  surface  ou  each  side  is  till,  slowly 
falling  westward  and  rising  eastward. 

In  the  southeast  i)artof  Sec.  7,  same  townshii),  the  crest  of  the  beach 
is  at  l,0ii7  to  1,070  feet.  Here  and  onward  the  next  two  miles,  through 
the  XW.  I  of  Se(5.  8,  the  southeast  part  of  Sec.  5,  and  the  \sestern  and 
northern  i»art  of  Sec.  4,  this  formation  is  finely  exhibited  in  a  ridge 
of  gravel  ami  sand  20  to  30  rods  wide,  15  feet  or  more  above  its  base 
westward,  where  lay  the  glacial  liake  Agassi/,  and  8  to  10  feet  above 
the  dc[)ression  cistward,  which  divides  it  froni  the  higher,  moderately 
undidatiug  exjianst?  of  till  b(!yoiul.  In  the  east  part  of  See.  5  its  eleva- 
tioM  is  1,005  feet,  and  through  Sec.  4,  1,005  to  1,072  feet. 

Sill  of  l<]/A-.i  S.  Diinuiug's  hou.se,  Sec.  3,  T.  120,  li.  44  (Eldorado),  1,074 
feet. 

Wiiter  in  the  S»Mith  lli'anch  of  iMustiidca  liiver,  5  feet  deep,  in  the  NVV. 
^of  Sec.  .31,  T.  127,  It.  41  (Logan,  CJrant  County),  1,0.">3  feet. 

Upper  or  llerinan  beach,  in  the  northwest  i)art  of  Sec,  27,  same  town- 
ship, 1,0()7  t .  1 ,001)  feet;  in  thci  S W.  [  of  Sec.  22, 1,007 ;  in  the  north  ])art 
of  this  See.  22  and  the  south  part  of  Sec;.  15,  forming  a  broad,  smoothly 
rounded  graxcl  ridge,  1,0(J8  to  1,071  feet. 

This  beach  luMr  the  middle  of  Si'.  15,  a  th  ird  of  a  mile  southwest 
from  Dr.  C.  O.  Pacpnu's,  about  30  rods  wide,  with  a  broad,  nearly  Hat 

(408) 


|op,  1,0 

)  the  i 

ice  tin 

yiie  bei 

Beac 

Bouthei 

|jown.^,h 

fe)r  -0  1 

iJepi 

tods  fr 

'  Surii 

thirdo 

of  the  1 

est  par 

^ile  pf 

*  Sain 

eion,  t 

mile  p( 

Jose 
jBec.  IJ 
Jiere,  o 
■    IL  1 
%U 
teach 
Bea 
the  w« 
feet. 
Iibout 
^lul  1< 
l    L.  ! 
•jieigh 
Bei 
Usual 
J  ,070 
^race 
Band, 
iVet ; 
;jfeet; 
il.  44 
j^iortl 
,1  mi 

this  ( 
Be 

Sec. 


piui.i,.  ao. 

(!.  11,  T.  125, 

i  far  as  tin; 

ir>  (DoIe^s 

nearly  level 

)iciious  than 
and  through 
shore  line  is 
iiuling  nortli- 
by  the  usual 
to  1,057  feet, 
lis  terrace  at 

Ij.iceut  level, 
mt),  1,0G0  tt) 

he  surface  of 
uly  J, 045  to 

r  or  lleruiaii 
4  (Eldorado), 
it  is  20  to  2r, 
utly  rounded 
1  inches  in  di- 
.'st  and  5  feet 
is  till,  slowly 

of  the  beach 
liles,  througli 
I  \s  esterii  and 
id  in  a  rid{^o 
bove  its  base 
10  feet  above 
I',  moderately 
e.  5  its  eleva- 

lorado),  1,074 

),  intheNW. 
it. 

7,  same  town- 
he  north  ])art 
lid,  smoothly 

le  southwest 
I,  nearly  Hut 


PPHAM.] 


HERMAN   BEACH   IN   MINNESOTA. 


23 


lop,  1,070  feet,  having*  ii  descent  of  about  15  feet  on  its  northwest  side 
)  the  area  of  Lake  Agassiz  and  half  as  much  on  the  southeast,  the  sur- 
ce  thence  rising  very  gradually  in  the  1^  miles  eastward  to  l[ennaa. 
he  beach  ridge  is  gravel ;  the  land  at  each  sid«?,  till. 
I  Beach,  equally  well  exhibited,  close  to  Br.  Paquin's  house,  at  the 
Ijoutheast  corner  of  Sec.  10  and  in  the  southwest  part  of  Sec.  11,  same 
|«)wnp,hip,  1,009  to  1,071  feet  J  and  in  this  Sec.  11,  at  ihe  railroad,  and 
j|)r  '^O  rods  south  westward,  1,004  to  1,000  feet. 

;  Depression,  40  rods  wide,  next  southeast  at  the  n^'roail  (lowest  20 
tods  from  the  top  of  the  beach),  1,000  to  1,003  feet. 
.  Surface  of  till  at  the  southeastern  snow  fences  of  the  railroad,  ;ibout  a 
fjliird  of  a  mile  southeast  from  the  beach,  1,073  feet;  at  the  nortii  west  end 
pi  tiie  northwestern  snow  fences,  about  25  rods  northwest  from  the  high- 
est part  of  the  beach,  1,054  feet;  and  at  the  one  nundred  and  eightieth 
|uile  post,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north-  ^t  from  the  last,  l.Oli)  feet, 
f  Saint  l*aul,  Minneapolis  and  Manit(j^ii  Kail  wax .  Breckenridgc  divi- 
sion, track  at  Herman,  1,070  feet;  at  the  one  '-iundred  and  eightieth 
Jiiile  post,  1,051  feet.* 


iniOSl  TIEUMAN   NOUTII   TO   TIIE   RED   lllVEIl. 


I 

Joseph  Moses's  house,  lloor  of  piaz/a,  in  the  SW.  j  oi"  the  N\V.  [  of 
j&ec.  18,  T.  128,  II.  43  (Delaware),  1,007  feet;  upper  or  Herman  beach 
jbere,  on  which  this  house  is  built,  1,000  to  1,007  fec^t. 
I  JI.  1).  Kendall's  house,  wt  the  cash  side  of  the  SK.  [  of  Sec.  12,  T.  12S, 
J{..  44  ((Jorton),  on  the  western  slope  of  this  beach,  1,0()2  ieet ;  top  of  the 
beach  ridge,  about  25  rods  east  of  Mr.  Kendall's  house,  1,007  feet. 

Beach  through  the  next  1}  miles  north  from  INFr.  iMoses's  house,  along 
the  west  side  of  Sees.  18  lud  7,  T.  128,  K.  43  (Delaware),  1,00(;  to  1,008 
feet.  The  bisich  for  this  distance  is  finely  exhibited,  having  a,  width  of 
■jibout  25  rods,  rising  5  to  8  feet  above  the  tlepressiou  at  its  east  side 
and  10  to  15  feet  above  tlivi  land  west. 

L.  [.  IJaker'shousesill,  in  the  SW. .{  of  Sec.  (5,  same  township,  of  same 
■jieight  with  tlui  top  of  the  beach  ridge,  on  which  i(,  is  l)uilt,  J,OOS  feet. 
^      Beach  in  Sec.  31,  T.  12!),  11.  13  (Elbow  Lake),  not  so  considcuous  as 
lisual,  1,(U)(J  feet ;  in  (or  near)    tlie  SW.  .[  of  Sec.  10,  same  township, 
Jl,070feet;  in  the  VAV.  \  of  Sec.   L8,  at  the  house  of  Henry  Olson,  a 
jgracefully  rounded  low  ridge,  as  elsewhere^,  composed  of  gravel  ami 
Band,  including  pebbles  u[>    to  3  inches  in  <lianieter,   1,005  to   1,000 
feet;    at  Mrs.  John  S.  Ireland's,  in  the  XW.    \  of  same  Sec.  18,1,070 
Jfeet;  at  Dr.  .1.  ^L  Tucker's,  in  the  NE.  \  of  the  NE.  ^  of  Sec.  2,T.  120, 
;lt.  44  (North  Ottawa),  1,071  feet;  about  1  mile  nortli  of  the  last,  near  the 
!^iorth  siile  of  Sec.  .'55,  T.  130,  1?.  44  (Lawnmce),  1,075  feet  ;  and  about 
,1  mile  farther  north,  also  1,075  feet.     Through   neail.v   tho  wiiole,  of 
this  distance  it  is  a  typicial  beacdi  ridge  of  sand  ami  giavtO. 

Beach  about  30  rods  west  of  M.  L.  Adams's  house,  in   tlu^  XE.  |  of 
•See.  20,  T.  130,  B.  44  (Lawrence),  1,075  feet,  being  1  feet  above  the 


i 


(409) 


24 


UPPER    BEACHES    OF    LAKE    AGASSIZ. 


tBL'LI.  39      »1'IIAM.  I 


4,1,0' 
|iio  an 

|iist>si( 
|>;utly 


land  adjoining'  this  ridgo  on  the  east  and  about  10  feet  above  the  fla'  f  nridgf 
land  near  on  tlie  west;  in  ycc.  1*3,  .same  towiishii),  1,070 feet  ;  and  ueai  lis  a  t"'i 
the  south  side  of  Sec.  10,  same  township,  1,000  to  1,074  feet. 

Extensive  sloughs  or  marshes  oocuir  in  Sec.  30  and  in  Sees.  25  and  21, 
same  townshii»,  each  being  about  a  mile  long,  lying  on  the  east  side  c 
the  beach  ridge  at  Dr.  Tucker's  and  reaching  2i  miles  northward ;  tin 
elevation  of  tliese  abovcj  sea  level  is  about  1,000  feet. 

In  the  north  part  of  S(H',.  10  and  the  south  part  of  Sec.  3,  sanu 
township,  this  shore  lino  of  Lake  Agassi/,  is  not  marked  as  usual  by 
gravel  ridge,  but  by  a  somewhat  abrupi:  ascent  or  terrace  in  the  drill  most. 
sheet  of  till,  the  elevation  of  the  top  of  which,  composed  partly  <i  ^yellow 
gravel,  is  1,085  to  1,070  feet;  base  of  this  terrace  and  land  westward  ^i  vN'hii 
consisting  of  till,  slightly  modified  on  the  area  of  Lake  Agassiz,  l,0);ii  |>nilt  <» 
to  1,050  feet.  IMiis  escarpment,  the  eroded  shore  lino  of  the  lake,  passo>  |^orlh  1 
about  40  rods  west  of  N.  S.  Denton's  house,  at  the  north  side  of  Sec.  Id,  |^i  Sec. 

Beach  in  Sec.  34,  T.  131,  K.  44  (Western),  the  southwest  townshif  I  Ueac 
of  Otter  Tail  County,  near  John  F.  Wentworth's,  1,070  to  1,075  feet; 
aurt;u;e  at  IMr.  Wentworth's  barn,  1,072  feet. 

Beach  25  rods  east  of  Albert  Copelandc's  house,  in  the  SW.  j  of  Sec, 
28,  same  townshii),  1,070  to  1,000  feet;  where  it  is  crossed  by  the 
old  road  from  Fergus  Falls  to  Campbell,  near  the  northwest  cornci 
of  this  Sec.  28,  1,072  feet;  through  the  next  2  miles  north,  finely  dc 
veloi)ed,  with  nearly  constant  height,  1,072  feet,  being  7  to  10  fvv\ 
above  the  depression  at  its  east  side  aiul  20  feet  above  the  area  west  ^  MH^i' 
ward,  which  was  covered  by  Lake  Agassiz  ;  at  Michael  J.  SliorteIl'.<.  ^^  ^''^ 
Sec.  y,  same  township,  1,073  feet;  one  mile  farther  north,  1,078  feet;  I  '•^''^' 
and  at  A.  J.  Swift's,  in  the  SE.  \  of  the NW. .{  of  Sec.  4 , 1,070  fee  1.  Th.  |,'^ '-  ' 
beach  at  Mr.  Swift's,  and  for  half  a  mile  farMier  north,  is  well  exhibited  ^'i  ^'^ 
and,  as  in  many  other  places,  is  bordered  ju  its  east  side  by  a  narrow  floites 
strip  of  marsh.  '»*'^ 

Beach  in  the  SW.  \  of  the  NE.  \  of  Sec.  33,  T.  132,  \i.  44,  1,070  feet ;    B"''fli 

top  of  large  aboriginal  mound,  situated  on  the  beach   here,  1,082  feet;    t^'i'l' 

land  30  rods  west,  1,000  feet;  lakelet  2.i0  feet  in  diameter,  about  an   X^''^.'^' 

eighth  of  a  mile  northeast  from  the  large  mouiul,  1,0  51  feet.  J^'il^ 

Eed  Iiivor  of  the  Korth,  near  the  northeast  corner  of  Sec.  33,  T.  132.    1'"^  • 

K.  44,  1,014  feet;  on  the  linc^  between  this  township  and  T.  132,  K.  4.1   f*^^'''" 

(P.use),  1,011  feet;  at  Dayton  bridge,  in  the  KE.  J  of  the  SW.  j  of  Sec 

20,  T.  132,  U.  43,  1,004  feet,  being  8  feet  below  the  bridge.     S.  A.  Aus 

tin's  house,  foundation,  in  the  N\V.  [  of  the  SW.  j  of  Sec.  20,  same  town 

shi]),  1,147  feet.    Old  grade  for  railroad  at  Dayton  britlge,  about  1,10- 

feet. 

No  noticeable  delta  was  brought  into  Lake  Agassiz  by  the  lied  liiver,    *^'^*  ''^* 

Ihe  b 

FROM   TirFi   llEl)    RTVFIl   NOTM'II  TO  MUSKODA.  ft  disi 

Beach  near  the  south  side  of  Sec.  21,  T.  132,  It.  44,  1,077  feet;  in  this    •^  ''' 
Sec.  21,  an  eighth  of  a  mile  north  of  the  road  from  Fergus  Falls  to  Breck-    •^**"^ 

(410) 


30  ro( 
:l^t'  a  I 
t   Kai 
l^om 
$to  1 


iBUH.  39.   #rliAM.  I 


HERMAN'    BEACH    IN    MINNESOTA. 


)ove  the  fiai 

et  ;  and  neai 

t. 

C8.  25  and  24, 

e  east  side  o 

'til ward;  tlu 

Sec.  3,  saiiu 
18  usual  by  ;i 

e  ill  the  drili 
sed  partly  v: 

id  westward 
^gassiz,  l,()(iii 
elake,  passim 
lideot'Sec.  ](i, 
rest  towiisLi[ 
to  1,075  feet; 

6W.  .i  of  Sec, 
OS  sed  by  tlu' 
hwest  coriH'i 
»rth,  finely  do 

7  to  lo"  feet 
the  area  west 

J.  Sliortell's, 
h,  1,078  feet; 
)70feet.  Tli( 
veil  exhibited 
e  by  a  narrow 

44,  1,070  foet; 
re,  ]  ,(KS2  feet ; 
iter,  about  an 
set. 

lee.  33,  T.  132. 
T.  132,  U.  1.1 
SW.  I  of  Sec. 
S.  A.  Alls 
!0,  same  town 
e,  about  1,10J 

he  Ked  liiver. 

V. 

J  feet;  in  tlii» 
alls  to  Breek- 


25 

i|nridge,  1,070  feet;  and  for  the  next  mile  north,  1,077  to  1,080 feet.  This 
is  a  t"»ncal  beaeli  ridi>e,  gently  rounded,  composed  of  sand  and  j^ravel, 
ioiitaining  pebbles  up  to  3  inches  in  diameter;  its  width  is  30  to  40 
lods,  and  its  hei},;ht  above  the  very  flat  area  on  its  west  side,  which 
yas  covered  by  Lake  Agassiz  (usually  somewhat  marshy  next  to  the 
Seach),  is  about  15  feet.  On  the  east  tiiere  is  first  a  depression  of  i 
|o  0  feet,  suc(;eeded  within  a  fourth  of  a  mile  eastward  by  a  jjentle  as- 
lent,  which  rises  5  to  10  or  15  feet  above  the  beach.  Tlie  material 
ifn  each  side  of  the  beach  is  till,  slightly  modified  by  the  lake  on  the 
tjrest.  It  is  all  fertile  prairie,  beautifully  green,  or  in  many  places 
ellow  or  purple  with  Mowers  during  July  and  August,  the  months 
I  wliicli  this  survey  was  made.  In  August,  1881,  no  liouses  had  been 
;^uilt  on  this  beaeh,  nor  witliin  one  mile  from  it,  along  its  first  II  miles 
-|orlh  from  the* Red  liiver,  the  first  liouse  found  near  tlie  beach  being 
|i  Se(!.  20,  T.  134,  11.  45  (Akron),  in  Wilkin  County. 

Ueach  at  a  low  portion,  probably  in  the  SM  \  of  Sec.  5,  1.  132,  K. 
4,  1,075  feet.  A  lake,  nearly  a  mile  long,  lies  on  the  Hat  lowland  about 
|iie  and  a  half  miles  west  from  this  low  part  of  the  beach.  Tlie  eleva- 
|ioii  of  tliis  lake  was  estimated  at  1,055  or  1,050  feet;  it  is  only  a  few 
iLH't  lower  than  the  general  surface  around  it. 

it  Heacii,  probably  near  the  north  side  of  this  Sec.  5, 1,078  feet.  On  its 
iast  side  liere  and  for  a  lialf  mile  botli  to  the  soutii  and  nortli  is  a  slough, 
|>artly  filled  with  good  grass  and  partly  with  rushes;  its  width  is  about 
$  (luaiter  of  a  mile  and  its  elevation  about  1,070  feet.  Tlie  land  west 
ff  the  beach  descends,  within  1  or  2  miles,  from  1,0(J0  to  1,050  feet. 
I  lleaeh  a  Iburth  of  a  mile  north  from  the  point  last  noted,  1,071  to 
1,072  ieet.  This  is  a  tyiiical  gravel  beach,  only  4  feet  aliovc  the  slough 
011  the  easi,  and   bonlered  on  the  west  by  marshy  grassland,  which 

« 

ilojies  gently  down  5  to  15  feet  below  this  beach  ridge 

Ueach  at  its  lowest  [)ortion  for  this  vicinity,  within  a  third  of  a  mile 
Borth  of  the  preceding  and  near  the  center  of  Sec.  32,  T.  133,  K,  44 
(Carlisle),  1,070  to  1,0(»S  feet,  being  only  2  feet  above  the  marsh  or 
|lough  on  its  east  side.  A  railroad  grade,  abandoned,  lies  a  third  of  a 
J^iile  east  of  this.  Ueach  a  fourth  of  a  mile  farther  north,  1,077  feet, 
^iid,  about  one  mile  north  from  its  lowest  portion,  1,075  feet,  (uit  by  a 
iavine,  the  bottom  of  which  is  nearly  at  l,Oi53  ti^et.  This  ravine  is  some 
80  rods  west  of  the  abaiidoneil  railroad  embankment.  l>e:icli  a  Iburth 
©f  a  mile  north-northwest  from  the  last,  1,077  feet, 
i  Railroad  giiule  where  it  crosses  the  beach,  about  a  mile  northwesterly 
Sfrom  the  ravine  mentioned,  1,077  feet.  Beach  here,  1,070  feet,  being 
^  to  10  feet  above  the  slough  on  its  east  siile  and  having  about  the 
|he  same  height  above  the  marsh  next  to  it  westward.  The  material  of 
the  beach,  shown  by  the  railroad  emban'iment,  which  is  made  of  it  along 
a  distance  of  a  third  of  a  mile,  is  coarse  gravel,  with  abundant  pebbles 
$f  all  sizes  up  to  0  inches  in  diameter,  fully  half  of  them  being  lime- 
|tone. 

J  (411) 


26 


UPPER    PEACHKS    OF   LAKE    AGAS.SIZ. 


[liVhU 


30.    tJjfHAM.] 


Beach  near  the  west  side  of  Sec.  7,  same  township,  at  the  west  liiu 
of  Otter  Tail  Comity,  1,083  feet.  Here  it  is  a  smoothly  rounded  gravel 
ridge  about  15  feet  above  the  ed,i;'e-  of  the  Hat  area  that  was  covered  b.v 
Lake  Agassiz  on  the  west  and  10  feet  above  a  marsli  or  slon<;h  that 
lies  a  few  rods  distant  on  its  east  side. 

Sill  of  Kudolph  Nifijjreler's  house,  in  the  SFi.  |  of  See.  L*(5,  T.  134,  l;, 
45  (Akron),  1,070  feet  Tliis  is  on  a  i)ortion  of  the  beach  extending: 
about  a  third  of  a  mile  from  south  to  north;  a  (juarter  of  a  mile  lo  tin 
north  its  elevation  is  1,082  feet.  In  the  northeast  [>art  oi*  Sec.  35  and 
in  the  north  half  of  Sec.  1*0  this  beach  is  interrupted  by  sloughs,  which 
take  its  place  for  a  (pnirter  of  a  mile. 

Beach  in  the  south  half  of  Sec.  23,  same  townshi]),  1,071)  to  l,OSi' 
feet;  in  the  NVV.  \  of  this  Sec.  23,  1,075  to  1,080  feet. 

Through  Sees.  14, 10,  and  3,  same  township,  tlie  beach  does  not  hav( 
its  ordinary  ridged  form,  but  is  mostly  marked  by  a  dei)osit  of  gravel 
and  sand  lying  upon  a  slope  that  rises  gradually  eastward.  Us  elevation 
liere  is  1,075  to  l,08ij  feet.  In  the  southern  part  of  this  distance,  proh 
ably  in  the  SW.  |  ot  Sec.  14,  the  margin  of  the  Hat,  sonu>what  marsh.v 
area  that  appears  to  have  been  covered  by  Lake  Agassi/  is  very  deli 
uite  at  1,075  feet,  whi(;h  thus  was  probably  the  height  of  the  lake  here. 

Beach  in  the  SW.  [  of  Sec.  31,  T.  135,  K.  45  (Tanberg),  eomi)osed  <>i 
gravel,  nearly  flat,  25  to  30  rods  wide,  1,084  to  1,087  I'eet,  bordered  li\ 
a  depression  of  2  to  5  feet  on  the  east  and  by  an  expanse  10  to  15  fett 
lower  on  the  west. 

Beach  in  the  N  W.  |  of  this  Sec.  34, 1 ,084  to  1 ,087  feet.  Here  the  lan<l 
next  east  does  not  present  the  usual  slight  hollow  dividing  the  beai  li 
ridge  from  the  higher  land  eastward;  instead  is  a  springy  belt,  mosti} 
1,089  feet,  quite  marshy,  yet  slowly  rising  2  to  4  feet  above  the  belt  o\ 
beach  gravel.  Occasional  hummocks,  about  2  feet  above  the  genenil 
surface  and  covered  with  raidi  grass  about  0  feet  high,  form  part  of  tlli^ 
belt  of  marsh  and  shaking  bog.  Next  to  the  east  is  a  slough  about  1 ,0.s( 
feet,  or  3  feet  below  the  springy  tract;  and  this  is  succeeded  by  a  siii 
face  of  moderately  unduhiting  till,  which  rises  gradually  eastward. 

Martin  E.  Renkliv's  house  sill,  in  the  SW.  |  of  Sec.  22,  same  town 
ship,  1,094  feet.  Shore  line  of  Lake  Agassi/,  an  eighth  of  a  mile  west 
of  Mr.  Renkliv's,  on  the  border  of  a.  marshy  llat  area,  not  marked  by  aii,\ 
distinct  gravel  ridge,  about  1,075  feet. 

Sloughs,  mostly  lilled  with  rushes  and  lia\ing  areas  of  water  all  tin 
year,  occupy  a  width  of  1  to  2  miles  next  west  of  the  shore  lijie  and 
beach  of  Lake  Agassi/  and  extend  nearly  continuously  10  miles  froii 
south  to  north  from  the  middle  of  T.  l.'A,  li.  45  (Akron),  to  the  souli 
edge  of  T.  130,  R.  45  ( Prairie  View).  The  elevation  of  this  belt  of  slougli> 
is  1,080  to  1,050  feet,  being  consi<leiably  lower  on  its  west  than  on  it> 
east  border.  The  highest  land  westwartl  in  the  west  edge  of  T.  135,  Jl. 
45  (Tanberg),  between  these  marshes  and  Manston,  is  about  1,000  feet, 
Along  most  of  this  distance  the  ordinary  beach  ridge  is  wanting. 

(412) 


Sail 
i^n,  tr 

ic.3; 

Smih 
beenl 
epd  so 
which 
The  el 
and  sa 
b^t  wi 
ftlie,  a 
il|  dial 

Bea 
north 

Beac 
99uth 
belt  2.' 
ward, 
of  a  m 
townsl 
1,095  t 
severa 
TJIie  dc 
feet  ab 

,  Beat 

aw.i 

house, 
fEnti: 
ill  the 
t|e  sea 
not  hi|. 
eastwa 
diBrs  ui 
rplling 
throng 
moder; 
beach 
<^  the 
l^]lev 
(puml 
Qiver, 
iMTea  tl 
JH-ojecl 
by  the 
;  Sain 
1^0071 


[11ULU30.  I^AM.]  HERMAN    BEACH    IN    MINNESOTA.  27 

the  west  liiK    jjSiiiut  ruul,  Mimitiapolus  and  Manitoba  Uaihvay,  lYnj^uis  Falls  divis- 

uundc'd  gravel  Wi?  tra(;k  at  Lawndale  water  tank,  in  or  near  the  southeast  corner  ot" 

as  covered  l\v  ^c. 33,  T.  l.'itj,  li,.  4:5(t*rairie  Vie\v),G  miles  northwest  Ironi  liothsay  and 

>r  slono'U  that  ^"''^*^'*  southeast  from  Jiarnesville,  1,().S8  feet.     Here  a  sidetrack  has 

li^eu  bid,  extending  about  a  third  of  a  mile  northward,  with  its  northern 

L*(>  T.  134,  Jt,  C#*l  some  50  rods  east  of  the  main  line,  to  take  ballast  from  the  beacjh, 

leh  extendini;  ^J^i^^^  ^'^  ^^'^^^  exhibited  here  and  onward,  having  its  typical  ridged  form. 

f  a  mile  to  tlit  Olie  elevation  of  its  crest  is  1,091  to  1,094  feet.    It  is  composed  of  gravel 

iL*  Sec.  35  and  ^^  sand  in  about  equal  amounts,  interstratitied  mainly  in  level  layers, 

;lotighs,  which  ^^^  ^^'i*^^^  these  often  obli(iuely  laminated.    Most  of  the  gravel  is  <j[uite 

Ipiie,  and  the  coarsest  gravel  found  here  has  pebbles  only  2  to  3  inches 

1  071)  to  1  O.Sii  V^  diameter.    About  half  of  it  is  limestone. 

^Beacli  ridge,  1  mile  farther  north,  1,004  feet;  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
does  not  havi  1^^^^  of  the  last  and  close  south  of  a  ravine,  1,090  feet, 
>osit  of  gravel  IBeach  about  3  miles  north  from  Lawndale  water  tank,  [U'obably  in  the 
Its  elevation  ^^^^h  part  of  Sec.  KJ,  T.  130,  K.  45  (L'rairie  View),  not  ridged,  but  a 
listance  pro!)'  ^^^  -^'^  ^^^^'^  wide,  of  gravel  and  sand,  on  a  slope  of  till  that  rises  east- 
ewhat,  marsliv  ^^^^^j  1,080  to  1,102  feet.  lUiach,  a  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand,  a  third 
li/  is  very  deli  ^  '^  "^''^  north  from  the  last,  1,105  jeet.  The  beach  in  Sec.  9  of  this 
'  the  lake  here,  ^^^''"^'^U^  i^  spread  more  broadly  than  u>ual,  its  higher  parts  being 
comi)osed  oi  li|l^'J5  to  1,107  feet.  Here  the  beach  deposits  are  crossed  oblicpiely  by 
t  bordered  bv  8#veral  broad  depressions  10  to  15  feet  dee[),  runiting  south-souUiwest. 
e  10  to  15  feet  'W^  depression  east  of  all  these  banks  of  gravel  anil  sand  is  about  1,090 

filet  above  the  sea. 
Here  the  land    .I^tiach,  a  well  marked  ridge  of  gravel  of  the  usual  ehara(;ter,  in  the 
in*""  the  beaili  ^l.^.  ^  of  Sec.  4,  same  township,  1,090  to  1,09S  feet,  and  at  John  Hart's 
y  belt  niostl\  h.**"***-'?  i'^  ^''^  N\V.  \  of  tiiis  Sec.  4,  1,103  feet. 

t)ve  the  belt  o\  f;l^ntering  Clay  County,  the  eh;vation  of  this  upper  or  Herman  beach 
e  the  ''•enenii  ^  ^''•^  ^'^^^  ^^^^*^  '^^  '^^'^' ''''''  ^-  ^''^'  ^^"  ^'^  (lluml)oldt),  is  1,100  feet  above 
m  part  of  tlii>  ti|^sea.  The  land  thence  for  two-thirds  ofainile  east  is  low  ami  smooth, 
h  about  1  OSd  IPt  higher  than  the  l)ea(;h.  IJeyond  this  the  next  third  of  a  mile  north- 
led  by  a  sur  #!^tward,  in  the  north  part  of  Sec.  34,  is  very  rocky,  with  many  bowl- 
astwa'rd  ^'^^^  "1*  ^^ ^*  '^'"^^  rai-ely  10  feet  in  diameter,  the  contoni'  being  moderately 

^  same  town-  ^^^^^'»  l^^to30  or  10  feet  abovi^  the  hea(;h.     I'\irtlier  I'a.s'  svard  here  and 
of  a  mile  w«',si  t^rt>"JJf''  th^  "•'•'^l  1^^  miles  north  to  liie  Xo'  hein  l'a(;i(ic  liailroad,  the 
larked  bv  am  moderately  rolling  or  smoothly  hilb  '•■'  rises  100  to  250  feet  above  this 
b^ach  within  the  distance  of  about  10  miles  between  it  and  the  eastlino 

wat(«,r  all  tli.  ^  ^^"^  ^'«""ty. 

liore  line  and  I'ilevation  of  the  beach  ridge  in  the  east  half  o!"  Sec.  28,  T.  137,  It.  45 
0  miles  froii  (pii"»l>oldt),  one-lburtii  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile  s(»uth  of  NV^illow 
to  the  soul!  fl^^'^'N  1,098  to  1,100  feet.  In  tiie  3  miles  westward  to  l>acne,sville  the 
»elt()f  slou<'li>  '^^'^  ^^^''^^'  ^^''•'^  covered  by  Lake  Agassi/,  shows  here  and  there  bowlders 
t  than  (Hi^it^  IJ^ojecting  1  to  2  feet  above  the  surface,  which  is  til!,  slightly  smoothed 
:  of  T.  135,  li,^  the  lake. 

)ut  1  000  feet    ^'^'*'i"t  Paul,  Minneapolis,  and  ManitobaUailway,  track  at  Barnes ville, 
anting.  1.007  feet. 

f 


28 


UPPEK  BEACHES  OF  LAKE  AGASSIZ. 


[BULL.  3!  HllAMj 


The  luisich  for  three- fbiirths  of  a  mile  north  from  Willow  River  coi 
sists  of  a  belt  of  gravel  and  sand,  lying  on  an  eastwardly  ascendin 
slope  of  till.  Throiiyii  tlio  next  lA  miles  northward,  in  the  NW.  |( 
Sec.  2li  and  in  See.  1."),  T.  137,  K.  45  (Humboldt),  the  shore  of  Lai; 
Agassiz  is  not  marked  by  the  usual  beach  of  gravel  and  sand,  bnt  ii 
stead  becomes  a  belt  of  marsliy  and  .springy  land  20  to  50  rods  wi(l^ 
rising  by  a  gentle  sloi)e  eastward,  rough  with  many  hummocks  ain 
hollows,  in  some,  portions  forniing  a  (piaking  bog,  in  which  horses  ain 
oxen  attempting  to  cross  are  mired. 

In  the  next  13  miles  nortliward,  through  Sees.  10  and  3,  same  towi 
ship,  the  beach  is  nowhere  well  marked  as  a  ridge,  but  is  mainly  a  Ixi 
of  gravel  ami  sand,  lying  on  a  slope  of  till,  which  gradually  rises  30 1 
40  feet  higlier  ;it  the  east.  Tlie  lack  of  typical  beach  dei)0sits  on  tli: 
shoi-e  tlirough  the  north  half  of  this  township  is  probably  due  to  it 
sheltered  situation  in  the  lee  of  islands  on  the  northwest.  The  coui> 
(►f  the  shore  currents,  determined  by  the  ])revailing  winds,  seems  to  hav 
been  southward,  as  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan. 

Iligli(;st  part  of  southern  island  in  the  east  edge  of  Lake  Agassiz,  i 
the  Nl'i.  I  of  Sec.  5,  T.  137,  K.  45  (Humboldt),  extending  northwai 
into  T.  13S,  11.  15  (Skree),  1,117  to  1,122  feet.  This  islan-i  was  about 
mile  long  from  south  to  north.  Beach  on  its  west  side,  a  well  develops 
ridge  ot  gr;  vel,  near  the  middle  of  the  north  line  of  Sec.  5,  1,005  feci 
and  for  a  third  of  a  mile  northnorthwestfromthis,  1,094  to  1,090  feet.  0 
tlic  east  side  of  the  beacili,  as  it  continues  northward,  is  a  slough  twi 
thirds  of  a  mile  long  from  south  to  north  and  about  30  rods  wide,  1,08 
feet.  Tills  was  evidently  filled  by  a  lagoon,  sheltered  on  the  southeii^ 
by  the  island  and  sei)arated  from  the  main  lake  by  the  beach.  Ti 
ward  the  northeast  it  widened  into  a  shallow  expanse  of  water,  8  to  I 
feet  deep,  about  U  miles  wide,  divided  from  the  broad  lake  on  the  wo 
by  two  islands  and  this  beach,  or  bar,  which  connected  them.  Lak 
Agassiz  here  api)ears  to  have  stood  at  the  height  of  1,090  to  1,095  fei 

Lieach  or  bar  in  the  north  part  of  Sec.  32,  T.  138,  K.  45  (Skree), 
broad  rounded  ridge  of  gravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  3  or  4  inches  in  dian 
eter,  1,103  feet,  ami  through  the  next  half  mile,  in  the  south  half  ( 
Sec.  29,  1,102  to  1,101  feet.  Along  ])art  of  this  distance  the  bear 
ri<lge  is  bounded  eastward  by  a  steeper  descent  than  usual,  the  laii 
next  east  being  1,085  to  1,090  feet  above  the  sea.  This  beach  or  lia 
continues  northward  in  a  ty|)ical  ridge  through  Sees.  29  and  20,  sam 
township. 

lieach  or  bar  at  L.  Williams's  house,  in  the  SW.  J  of  the  SE.  ,',  i 
Sec.  20,  same  township,  1,101  feet;  a  (|uarter  of  a  mile  farther  norll 
1,100  A^et;  three-quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  Mr.  Williams's,  near  the  niii 
die  of  the  north  line  of  Sec.  20,  1,110  feet,  continuing  a  very  dehiiit 
ridge  through  the  south  half  of  Sec.  17,  1,109  to  1,110  feet. 

Near  the  middle  of  this  Se<!.  17  the  beach  deposit  of  gravel  and  saii 
ceases  at  the  west  side  of  the  northern  islaud,  which  was  situated  i 

(414) 


>eea 
^qjec 


^ring 


•|The 

Mver 

<fntini 

oIinin|i< 

llpiit  ii 

^rthv 


[BULL.  3;  iilUM.I 


HEKMAN   IJKACTT   IN   MINNESOTA. 


29 


How  lliver  coi: 
udly  ascendiii 
ti  the  N  W.  .^  ( 
shore  of  Lak 
11(1  sand,  but  ii 

0  50  rods  wide 
hiunmocks  uiii 
liich  horses  ain 

1  3,  same  towi 
is  mainly  a  be, 
iially  rises  30 
lei)0sits  on  tli 
)ably  dne  to  i 
it.  The  cour> 
s,  seems  to  hav 

iuke  Agassiz,  i 

Wug  northwai 

m'l  was  about 

I  Avell  deveUiiti'i 

id.  5,  1,095  fee! 

^)  1,090  feet.  (J 

s  a  slough  t\v( 

ods  wide,  1,0^ 

1  the  southea^ 

he  beaeh.    Ti 

f  water,  8  to  1 

^ke  on  the  wo 

d  them.    Lak 

)0  to  1,095  foi 

I.  45  (Skree), 

iindies  in  diaii 

5  south  hair  ( 

mce  the  boat 

isual,  the  laii 

s  beaeh  or  \n\ 

9  and  20,  sum 

lof  the  SE.  1  ( 

farther  nortl 

s,  near  the  mil 

a  very  dehnit 

et. 

ravel  and  saii 
s'as  situated  i 


eeast  half  of  this  section  and  extended  also  eastward  in  a  long,  low 
qjection  nearly  across  the  south  side  of  Sec.  10,  and  nortliward  iialf 
,y  across  Sec.  8.     Highest  part  of  this  island,  in  or  near  the  NE.  -^  of 
e  N  W.  i  of  Sec.  17,  about  1,125  feet.    The  old  shore  of  the  north  half 
this  island  has  no  l)each  ridge  nor  other  deposits  of  gravel  and  sand, 
t  is  plentifully  strewn  with  largo  bowlders  up  to  5  and  10  feet  in  di- 
eter, and  many  of  these  project  2  to  5  feet  above  the  general  surface. 
||ie  lake  waves  eroded  here  and  deposited  the  sand  and  gravel  gath- 
S|ed  from  this  till  as  a  beach  a  little  farther  sontli. 
iNorth  and  northeast  from  this  northern  island  a  lower  expanse, 
"arly  level  and  in  some  portions  marshy,  resembling  tlie  broad  flat 
lley  of  the  Ked  Eiver,  extends  li  miles  to  tlui  east  shore  of  Lake 
assiz,  its  height  being  1,075  to  1,090  feet,  or  10  to  25  feet  below  the 
rface  of  the  ancient  lake.    The  distance  between  these  ishuuls  was  2 
^les,  and  the  distance  from  the  summit  of  the  tirst  to  that  of  the  sec- 
Cptil,  nearly  due  north,  4  miles.     Each  of  them  rose  about  25  ieet  above 
!^keAgassiz.    The  strait  between  them  and  the  mainland  eastward 
lias  10  to  20  foet  deep  and  from  1  to  U  miles  wide,  ex(;epting  a.  narrow 
ce  i:ear  the  southeast  corner  of  Sec.  10.    East  of  the  northern  island 
e  main  shore  of  the  lake  was  indented  by  a  bay  a  third  to  a  half  of 
die  wide  and  about  10  feet  deep,  stretching  2.i  miles  southeastward 
|)m  the  lake  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Sec.  10  to  the  w(!st  part  o! 
c.  23,  same  township.    The  shore  of  the  lalce  east  of  its  islands  along 
is  bay  and  northwesterly  to  the  north  line  of  this  township  lackf 
e  beach  deposits  which  elsewhere  distinguish  it. 
fin  its  contiiniation  northwestward  the  shore  line  of  the  old  lake  run; 
gonally  across  Sec,  32,  T.  139,  \t.  45  (Hawley),  where  it  again  presents 
iO  anomalous  character  of  a  very  springy  and  nnirshy  belt,  20  to  40 
Is  wide,  rough  with  hummocks  and  in  many  places  so  deeply  miry 
at  it  is  dangerous  for  teams.    This  boggy  tract  has  a  gentle  descent 
|Bstward,its  lower  portion  being  about  1,085  feet,  and  its  upper  b(U-dci', 
l|ry  nearly  level  across  this  entire  section,  being  1,098  to  1,100  feet, 
tiftiich  was  almost  exactly  tlie  height  of  Lake  Agassiz,  as  shown  by  its 
tinct  beach  of  gravel  and  sand  at  the  south  and  mnth.    Next  east- 
rd  rises  a  moderately  undulating  slope  of  till,  strewn  with  abundant 
wlders;  and  rarely  a  bowlder,  2  to  5  fVet  in  diameter,  is  seen  on  the 
ringy  land  that  marks  the  border  of  tlie  ancient  lake. 

DKLTA  OP  THE  IIUPFALO  UlVFJl. 

(The  delta  brojight  into  the  east  side  of  Lake  Agassiz  by  the  Buftalo 
ver  extends  about  5  miles  south  westward  from  JMuskoda,  forming  a 
Ofntinuously  descending  plain  of  stratili«Ml  sand  and  fuu^  gravel,  de- 
Caning  from  1,100  f«'('t  near  I\rusko<la.  to  1,073  feet  at  its  southwestern 
l^iit  in  the  north  part  of  Sec.  34,  T.  139,  R.  40  (lliverton).  Here  and 
«i>rthward  along  a  distance  of  3  miles  to  the  Butlalo  Uiver,  this  delta 

(415) 


so 


tIPPEU    MKAOITMS   OK    f.AKE   AGAHST/ 


riltTf.T.  T    Wll'AM 


plain  is  tormiiuitcil  by  a  steep  slope  like  the  face  ot  ji  terrace  ;  the  ont(  ^•''■♦' 
portion  of  the  ori<iiiiul  delta,  beyond  this  line,  has  been  carried  awii 
by  the  waves  and  shore  currents  of  the  lake  when  it  stood  at  the  lo\\(  Ifei  bi 
level  marked  by  the  Norcross  beach.  12  by 

Northern  Pacilic  Ilailroad,  tra(!k  at  Mnskoda,  1,090  feet.  Threshold  ttHtel.'^ 
of  church  a  quarter  of  a  nifle  southeast  from  Mnskoda  depot,  1,11  QBiirl* 
feet.  Beach  here  and  for  a  third  of  a  mile  south  to  the  Biiifalo  Kivcr  'J'hr 
as  also  at  the  excavation  for  the  railroad,  25  rods  north  of  the  churcl  Uton  '' 
1,113  to  1,11 1  feet  The  beach  here  is  o~  rods  wide,  rising  14  or  15  fci  to  1,1( 
in  a  gentle  swell  above  the  edge  of  the  delta  of  modified  drift  on  tli  niih's 
west  and  descending  the  same  amount  to  the  depression  at  its  eas  tlto'ou' 
side.  It  is  made  up  of  interstratified  gravel  and  sand,  the  former  pn^l?  ^r. 
vailing,  including  pebbles  up  to  3  or  4  inches  and  rarely  0  or  e'<'ii  b|ach, 
inches  in  diameter,  all  Avater-worn.  Half  or  two-thirds  of  these  i)('lhi|viii,i 
bles  are  limestone.    No  bowlders  occur  here,  nor  are  theyfound  in  an    '^^PP 

of  the  beach  deposits  of  Lake  Agassiz.  ^>  'J-  ^ 

finely 
FROM  IMUSKODA   NOKTll   TO    TIIK   WJLD   KICK   RIVEU.  The  de 

rlii(\s  a 
Beach  in  the  next  2  miles  north  of  Mnskoda,  mainly  1,11.'?  to  Ijl-'j.*^.    , 

feet;  at  its  lowest  depression,  about  1  mile  north  of  Mnskoda,  1, id  _^   '     ' 


1,105  feet  very  approximately  above  our  present  sea  level.    Within 
to  10  miles  northward,  its  height  seems  to  have  been  1,110  to  1,115  fee 


sdilted 

nc|kr  th 

wk\  mr 


Beach  through  the  north  half  of  Sec.  30,  T.  110,  R.  45,  1,128  t.^^^  . 

1,131  feet,  and  through  the  west  part  of  Sees.  19  and  18,  same  towi    i 

.  nor  m 

ship,  1,125  to  1,130  li3ot,  composed  of  sand  and  line  gravel,  not  generall.  :.^.^ 

iu  a  typical  ridge,  but  often  with  a  depression  2  to  5  feet  lower  castwui  W"    , 

and  boniuled  on  the  west  by  a  descent  of  about  30  feet  within  an  eight  .-T  ' 

of  a  mile.    A  surface  of  slightly  undulating  till  rises  very  graduall  * 

from  this  beach  eastward.  .  T  [  ^  \ 

In  T.  139,  11.  40  (lliverton),  and  in  Sees.  35  and  20,  T.  140,  U.  "^1 J^^^ 
the  eroded  western  border  of  the  delta  of  Bulfalo  Hi ver  marks  the  whoi    i ,. 
of  Lake  Agassiz  at  the  time  of  the  Norcross  beach. 

In  the  west  part  of  Sec.  24,  T.  140,  II.  40,  and  for  4  miles  "ortl:^.,  . 

ward,  the  Norcross  beach  lies  ojjly  1  mile  to  a  halt  mile  west  of  tli.  ^_:    ., 

rom  till 
upp'^r  bea(!h  and  is  about  50  ftM't  lower.     Tin;  terracelike  area  betwcr  ^^   ,  . 

these  beaches  is  strewn  with  occasional  bowlders  up  to  0,  8,  or  10  <'«''i^  o() 
iu  diameter  and  rarely  of  larger  size,  nnnih  more  abundant  than  "l*",f  Ajf, 
the  average  surface  of  the  till  in  this  region,  indicating  that  the  surfar 

(410) 


ruru  fl!  #"A^' I  FfKRMAN    nFAOTT    fN   MIXNRSOTA.  31 

i'iicc  tliconti  'fl^'"'"*'  '"^"^  ''*''^'"  <'<>n.si(U'r{ibly  eroded  by  tlie  waves  of  tho  lake.  The 
1  carried  aw;i  wi'P'^t  l)o\\i(ler  seen  in  Clay  County  lies  about  50  rods  west  of  the  up- 
od  at  tho  lo\v(  Ipi  Ixiucli,  in  or  near  Sec.  12,  T.  140,  E.  -40.  Its  dimensions  are  15  by 
]§  by  5  feet  and  ils  top  is  1,005  feet  above  the  sea.  It  is  gneiss,  mi- 
>et.    Threshol  ll|ib^ly  ])orphyriti(',  witli  white  feldspar  crystals  up  to  au  eighth  or  a 

la  depot,  1,11  #i>^^<'i"  "*■'»"  i"^'l'  1*>'>S- 

Balfalo  Ilivcr    ;  The  elevation  of  the  foot  ot  the  western  slope  of  the  upper  or  Her- 

of  tho  churcl:  tt|i"  beach  along  the  north  part  of  the  east  line  of  T.  1-40,  R.  46,  is  1,095 

ng  14  or  15  fci  ti  1,100  feet.     (Vest  of  the  [N^orcross  beacli  in  Sec.  12,  T.  140,  R.  40,  6 

ed  drift  on  tli  n^h'"^  noith  of  Muskoda,  1,080  feet,  and  along  the  distance  of  3  miles 

5ion  at  its  eas  m»o'i{?h  Sih;s.  ID,  12,  and  1,  it  varies  from  1,075  to  1,085  feet.    In  Sec. 

the  former  pi'(  31,  T.  141,  K.  45  (Keon),  its  height  is  1,085  feet.    Like  the  Herman 

ely  G  or  e  "ii  bijjacli,  it  is  a  low,  smoothly  rounded  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand,  usually 

s  of  these  i)f!h||vi'ig  a  d('pr(\ssion  of  ;>  to  5  feet  or  more  at  its  east  side. 

ey  found  in  an    f^^PP^'i"  <>i'  1  b'rmau  beach  at  a  high  porticm  in  or  near  the  SE.  ^  of  Sec, 

l|fr.  1 40, 11.  40, 1 ,1  .'5(1  feet.     For  a  mile  next  south  from  this  point,  it  is  j 

fliftely  rounded  ridge  of  gravel  rising  northward  from  1,130  to  1,136  feet. 

RiVEii.  Th<>  depression  at  its  east  side  is  4  to  0  feet  lower;  then  the  surface  gently 

....     -  ,  ,ril)<''^  i»l  !i  (juartei-  to  a  third  of  a  mile  from  the  beach  to  1,135  or  1,140 

L,'  /'  1     ^'.r^'W^  beyond  which  eastward  this  nearly  level  but  slightly  undulating 

Muskoda,  l,ltl    j!  ,.,.,1      •  ^      r  irwx-      i.  -1 

,,,    ,     ^c     '.,  e*t)anseot  till  rises  only  5  or  lOleet  amde. 
5K.  1  of  Sec.  ->  IL      ,      ,.      ,..     ,.         .,  ,,         ., 

\     ,  ..    I'each  a  loui'tu  ot  a  inilo  north-northeast 

third    of    a    IHlLsii...,     ^,..^.^..i..   .1...  -VTA\-      1    „/.ci n    m   i 


„  .  ..  _._ ,    . _„,  _. ,  „.  .„  ^_ ,, Herman 

M  "i"  1*^'^  Nor(;ross  beaches,  here  about  two-thirds  of  a  mile  apart,  are  inter, 
as  at  ^l^^'^j^|"'gectcd  by  a,  watercourse.    At  its  north  side  the  upper  or  Herman  beach, 


a 


l.!2  te(-t. 
m.     ,  .  ,      JBeach  three-fourths  ot  a  mile  farther  north,  probably  near  the  north 

rithin  an  eighl  .^^  ^^^.  j^^^^.  ^,,   ,^  typical  gravel  ridge,  1,134  feet,  10  feet  above  the  land 
very  graduall^^^^^,,i^j. .  ^^^^^  ^  sixth  of  a  mile  farther  northeast  this  beach  ridge  is 

lelpressed  to  1,12.'5  feet. 
T.  140,  K.  II   ^],,^v,>,.l),..„.l^(.o,it;em])oraneouswith  the  Herman  beach  farthersouth, 

narks  the  «l'^'i,at formed  when  thesurCace  of  the  lake  inthislatitude  had  fallen  slightly 
rom  its  liighest  level,  is  linely  exhibited,  at  a  distance  of  one-third  to 
4  miles  i>or"  vi^i,.ti,i,.,].s  of  a  mile  west  from  the  upper  beach,  through  tho  4  miles 
lile  west  ot  tli.j,^^  ^^^^^  ^,^^ii^,i  ^j^j^,  ^^^.  j^^,^.^  oq  |^-,  ^]^^^  northeast  corner  of  Sec.  4,  same 
0  area  betwei^^i^^ijj^  rp|„,  (q^^yation  of  this  secondary  beach  in  the  south  part  of 
)  (),  8,  or  10  It'ij^  o()  is  1,1 15  I'eet;  thence  to  a  stream  near  the  east  line  of  the  SB.  ^ 
hint  than  "P^iift^y,  17,  1,118  to  1.123  feet;  at  each  side  of  this  stream,  1,118  feet; 

ihat  the  surhu   •$ 

(41  <) 


32 


VPVVAi    I'.KArilllS    OV    L/VKK    AOASSIZ 


[HUM.. :;'  0IIAM 


tlia 
vor 
Jiea 

1,1 

Ent 

iiul 


7iortliwiii(l,  in  the  iiortliwost  part  of  Hoc.  10  iuid  in  tlio  SW.  \  of  St'c.  I'  ||i  uv 
1,118  to  1,121  foet  J  and  in  tlio  iHH-tli  part  of  Soc.  9,  1,121  to  1,127  foct.  |pe  hi 

Tlic  elevation  of  the  upper  beach  in  T.  1  H,  U.  45  (ICeon),  1,123  to  1,1.;;  c|ose 
feet,  shows  that  the  height  of  Lake  Atijassiz  liere,  dnriii<>-  its  maxinnii.  jlorcr 
stage,  was  about  1,120  feet.    The  secondary  beach  was  made  by  the  lak 
after  it  had  falleu  0  to  10  feet. 

Surface  of  ground  at  Christian  Sether's  house,  in  the  SW.  ^  of  Sec.  H 
1,129  feet.  Upper  beach  through  the  west  part  of  this  Sec.  10,  1,130 1 
1,137  feet,  increasing  iu  height  from  soutli  to  north.  This  is  a  tyi)i(M 
beach  ridge  of  grave;!,  witli  a  rather  al)rupt  descent  on  its  east  side  t 
land  G  or  8  feet  lower,  which  thence  ascends  with  a  slightly  uudulatiii,  i»|ik(;) 
surface  eastward.  <»  son 

Upper  beach  in  Sec  3,  same  township,  1,134  to  1,137  feet,  10  feet  abov  tbl,14 
the  laud  next  east.  SecHtndary  beaith.  parallel  with  this  and  about  thrci  J^j^bbh 
fourths  of  a  mile  distant  to  the  northwest,  iu  Sees.  -4  and  34,  1,123  t  l^ach, 
1,127  feet,  being  thus  10  feel  lower  tlian  tlie  highest  j)arts  of  the  eastei  T^stw 
beach.  Extensive  sloughs,  inclosing  lakelets,  lie  between  these  beachc  dSbis  i 
in  Sees.  3-4  aud3.~>,T  142,  11.45  (IJagen),  atan  elevationof  l,115tol,li;  ij|  T.  ] 
feet,  but  sinking  northward  to  1,105  feet.  The  secondary  beach  eoiraehi' 
tinues  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Sec.  20,  declining  i?i  height  northoiist  tftiber 
ward  as  it  approaches  the  South  IJranch  of  the  Wild  llice  lliver,  beiii  7»ea< 
at  1,125  to  1,115  feet.  24  T.  ] 

Upper  beach  in  Sec.  35  and  in  the  south  part  of  Sec.  25,  T.  142,  liii|«the 
45, 1,140  to  1,142  feet.     Tliis  is  a  ty|)ical  beach  ridge  of  sand  and  gra  vi  1^'  rii 
about  30  rods  wide,  with  the  land  next  southeast  5  to  8  feet  lower,  an    '|u  o 
divided  from  the  secondary  beach  northwesterly  by  a  slough  about  siye  hi 
mile  Avide,  this  slough  being  at  1,115  to  1,105  feet.  pCNRed 

IJeach  at  B.  O.  Helde's  house,  iu  the  south  half  of  the  SW.  :|;of  Sci  jThn 
.30,  T.  142, 11.  44  {i:\(  n),  1,138  feet.  The  flat  expanse  of  the  Ued  l^iv't#  be 
Valley  reaches  east  on  the  South  IJranch  of  the  Wild  Kice  Jliver  to  Si  lij52  f 
10,  T.  142,  K.45  (TIageu),  probably  being  there  about  975  feet  above  tleJijBtwa 
sea,  or  100  feet  below  this  upi)er  beach  of  Lake  Agassiz,  4  or  5  milrii||r  at 
southeast.  aflirt  30 

Beach  through  Sees.  30  and  29,  T.  112,  li.  44  (Ulen),  extending  lw,4st  si 
miles  east-northeast  from  IMr.  ilelde's  to  the  South  Bianch  of  the  Wi!  ^^eacl 
Kice  lliver,  in  a  low,  gently  rounded  ridge  of  gravel,  30  rods  wide,  5  tl^yfianii 
8  feet  above  the  area  of  till  next  southeast  and  about  15  feet  above  tlfpj^i  tl 
surface  close  at  its  northwest  side,  1,138  to  1,142,  mostly  1,140,  fee    |^.  (>. 

Beach  at  Nels  Wiger's  house,  piobably  in  the  NW.  |  of  Sec.  28,  l,M.i43, 
feet;  about  40  rods  west  from  this,  1,140  feet.  Iiejre  is 

South  Branch  of  Wild  liii^e  lliver,  in  theSW.  jof  Sec.  21,  same  towa  pope 
ship,  1,095  feet.  Ante 

lieae.h,  a  typical  gravel  ridge,  ni  or  near  the  west  half  of  Sec.  l<!,3Bl.  |  o 
half  mile  to  1.^  miles  north  of  the  South  I'.ranch,  1,140  to  1,143  f <  •  Oieel 
surface  of  till  an  eighth  to  n  cpuirter  of  a  mile  next  east,  1,135  iVi  Wild 
Farther  east  the  slightly  or  moderately  undulating  expanse  of  till  liijOJS  fe 

(418) 


I 


liiUM.:;    #tiAMl  HERMAN    BKACIt    TV    MINNESOTA.  1)3 

)\V.  \  of  St'c.  !i  a|i  average  ascent  of  al)oiit  10  feet  a  mile  for  15  miles  to  the  base  of 
to  1,127  feet,  tile  high  land  at  the  White  Karth  Agency,  which  is  dimly  visible,  bine, 
),  1,123  to  1,1'!;  <|ose  to  the  horizon.  Westward  the  snrfaee  gradnally  (lescends  to  the 
g  its  maximui.  lloreross  beaeli,  nearly  (50  feet  lo\v«>r,  \vhi(th  is  the  fartlu'st  land  in  sight 
ade  by  the  hik.  i'b  that  direction,  about  3  miles  distant,  beyond  which  lies  the  tlat  lied 

■feiver  Valley. 
W.  i  of  See.  Ill    [  Jieach,  a  well  defined  ridge,  in  Sees.  9  and  4,  T.  1 12,  R.  11  (TJlen),  1,139 
^ec.  10,  1,13()  t  t|  1,144  feet. 

ihis  is  a  typi(M  Entering  Norman  County,  an  unusually  high  i)ortion  of  the  beach  is 
its  east  side  t  fsaud  in  or  near  tlu^  SI.^.  \  of  the  SE.  {  <.f  Sec.  3.'?,  T.  113,  K.  41  (Home 
litly  vindulatiii,  tiiik(^),  having  its  (-rest  at  1,149  feet.  It  holds  thiselevation  for  an  extent 
of  some  20  rods,  on  each  side  of  which  its  height  is  mostly  from  1,139 
't,  10  feet  abov  tol,145  feet.  Its  material  is  coarse  gravel,  principally  limestone,  with 
md  about  tlirtM  jijjjbbles  up  to  4  and  <5  inches  in  dianieter.  Surface  close  east  of  this 
md  34,  1,123  i  06«'it;h,  1,1.'{7  feet.  A  slight  swell  above  the  general  descending  slope 
tsof  theeastf'i  ulstward,  about  2  miles  distant,  has  a  height  very  nearly  1,125  feet, 
n  these  beaclnlKbis  maybe  the  continuation  of  the  secondary  beach  that  was  seen 
lof  l,115tol,li:  i||  T.  141,  R.  45  (Keon).  It  hides  the  view  farther  west,  except  from 
lary  beach  coi  t^c  highest  point  of  the  beach  (1,149  feet),  where  the  distant  belts  of 
3ight  northeasitilaber  along  the  lied  and  the  Wild  Ilico  llivers  are  visible, 
ice  Kiver,  bein  ^lieach  at.l.  T.  lluseby's  house,  in  the  SW.  [of  the  NW.  |  of  See. 
24  T.  143,  II.  44  (Home  Lake),  1,147  feet;  through  1|  miles  next  north, 
;e.  25,  T.  142,  Un  the  NW. :[  of  Sec.  20  and  the  west  part  of  Sec.  23,  forming  a  broa<l, 
^aiul  and  gravi  1^-  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand,  1,145  to  1,149  I'eet. 

ieet  lower,  an  In  or  near  Sees.  17  ami  10,  T.  143,  II.  43  (Flom),  a  prominent  mas- 
slough  about  sife  hill,  called  "  Frenelnnan's  lilulf,"  of  somewhat  in-egular  form,  com- 
posed of  morainic  till,  rises  150  feet  or  more  abov(^  this  beach. 
le  SW.  \  of  S.'^  _Through  the  W.  h  of  the  NW. .}  of  Sec.  14,  T.  143, 11. 44  (Home  Lak«0, 
■  the  lied  Ilivtlie  beach  is  mostly  a  typical  gravel  ridge,  with  its  crest  at  1,147  to 
ice  River  tf)  S(l^l52  feet.  In  the  NW.  \  of  See.  11,  same  township,  it  curves  north- 
5  feet  above  tlesifitward  and  attains  an  unusually  massive  development,  its  crest  be- 
?iiz,  4  or  5  miliiog  at  1,150  to  1,158  feet,  rising  l~)  feet  above  the  laud  next  southeast 
and  30  feet  above  the  border  of  the  area  of  Lake  Agassiz  at  its  north 
1),  extending  Iwest  side. 

inch  of  the  Wi  Beach,  a  well  marke<l  gravel  ridge  near  the  southwest  corner  of  Sec. 
)  rods  wide,  5  1^  game  township,  1,15(5  feet,  and  an  eighth  of  a  mile  east-northeast 
5  feet  above  tlfrcUn  this,  1,150  feet. 

>stly  1,140,  fee  %  G.  Aurdal's  house,  foundation,  in  the  NW.  \  of  the  NE.  1  of  Sec.  fl, 
of  Sec.  28,  1,11. '!I43,  R.  43  (Fhmi),  1.148  feet.  This  is  situated  on  the  beach,  whicli 
here  is  a  deposit  of  gravel  and  sand  8  feet  or  mori'  in  depth,  lying  upon 
3.  21,  same  towii  doi)e  of  till  that  ascends  southeastward. 

Anton  Johnson's  store,  fouiulation,  on  this  beach,  in  the  SE.  |  of  the 
alf  of  Sec.  \i>M.  \  of  Sec.  31,  T.  144,  R.  43  (Fosum),  1,142  feet. 
•10  to  1,113  fee    Ci't't'k  flowing  northwesterly  between  the  last  two,  about  1,105  feet, 
east,  1,135  h'<    Wild  Rico  River,  2  miles  north  of  Johnson's  store,  approximately 
>ause  of  till  lil,d75  feet. 

Bull.  39 3  (419) 


1 


d4 


ITrl'Kft    BteACUfcH    01'^   LAlCE   AOASSlZ 


tHUU,.,15     »?"^'' 


Secondary  ITormau  heuc-li,  a  well  marked,  broad,  smoothly  roundpi  ^'^'' 
gravel  rid^e,  extending'  from  southwest  to  northeast,  crossed  by  thi  *9*'<h'i 
township  lino  road  at  the  north  side  of  the  NB.  \  of  the  NW.  ^  of  Sti  beaiii 
2,  T.  ll.J,  K.  41  (Homo  Lake),  1,137  feet.  It  is  about  30  rods  wide  am 
rises  5  to  10  feet  above  the  depression  at  its  southeast  side. 


FUOM   THE   WILD  RICE  RIVER   NORTH   TO   MAPLE   LAKE. 


Wa 

west 

1,071 

Kv( 

ford, 

Wh 
btou"'' 


3niil(> 
B.11 


A  broad  belt  of  timber  borders  the  Wild'llice  River,  lying  mostly  oi 
Its  north  side,  in  T.  144,  It.  43  (Fosnm),  and  T.  144,  K.  44  (Wild  liiec, 
and  at  tlie  time  of  this  survey,  in  18S1,  no  road  nor  bridge  aftbrded, 
crossing  here.  Therefore  this  series  of  Levels  was  resumed  north  of  tin 
"Wild  Kice  liiver  by  starting  from  Itolette  Station  of  the  Saint  I'aul  j^i),,^ 
IVIinneapolis  and  Manitoba  Railway,  890  feet  above  the  sea,  near  tlii  jj^j^j.  ^, 
middle  of  Sec.  17,  T.  14(5,  K.  40  (Lockhart),  about  IJ  miles  north  of  tlit  plain  ( 
Lockhart  farm.  Proceeding  eastward  from  this  i)oint,  the  lirstobserva  tatioii 
tions  of  th(^  upper  beach  were  in  T.  145,  li.  43  (Waukon);  T.  140,  R.  ii, ,  ],,  j 
(Sundal) ;  and  T.  147,  R.  44  (Garfield).  W.licli 

This  beach  is  intersected  by  the  Wild  Rice  River  near  the  middled  ^i|.,, 
T.  144,  R.  4'>  (Fosum),  and  thence  it  passes  north-northwesterly  thron;,'!  f^t  in 
tlui  west  part  of  T.  14.5,  R.  43  (Waukon).    In  Sees.  7  and  0,  same  town  ^\^\f^  .,] 
sliip,  it  is  a  low  smooth  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand  about  25  rods  wido,  hui.,.  vj 
rising  5  to  10  feet.     In  the  west  half  of  this  Sec.  0  and  in  Sec.  30,  T  aeries 
1 10,  R.  44  (Sundal),  the  old  Pembina  trail  lies  on  it.  miles  i« 

About  2  miles  west  of  the  ui)per  beach,  a  secondary  Tlerman  beacli  ofSec. 
of  similar  nmterial  and  contour,  probably  20  feet  lower,  was  observed,!  B^ntliv 
few  rods  oast  of  the  stake  at  the  ^liiUUe  of  the  north  side  of  Sec.  14,  T  of  the; 
145,  R.  4  1:  (Strand),  having  a  heighi  ^  '  ~  «  feet  above  its  base,  with  ;,  18^  t.  ] 
smaller  ri<lgo  of  sand  and  gravel,  3  feet  higu  ,„,.  ve  its  base,  close  wes;  Sftud  J 
of  this  stake.  Again,  a  half  mile  farther  west,  in  the  northeast  coriici  sand  d 
of  Sec.  15,  same  township,  another  Herman  beach,  probably'  10  feet  ht  ta  alio 
low  the  last,  was  noted,  having  a  height  of  4  or  5  feet  above  its  base,    gmss  ( 

Traveling  northwestward  along  the  Ponil)irir,  trail,  the  upper  bead  ccwnmc 
ridge  Avas  not  distinctly  observed  after  loiiving  Sec.  30,  T.  140,  R.  liftbst  s 
(Sundal),  initil  it  is  again  occupied  bv  'Ai'.-.  trail  in  Sec.  1)  of  this  town  Elev 
ship.  The  intervening  3  miles  are  Hat  ami  nearly  level.  Probably  tlitt#nort 
beach,  less  noticeable  than  usual,  lies  within  a  half  or  1  mile  east  of  tlifdllne  a 
trail  here.  In  the  eastorn  part  of  Sec.  0  this  beach  is  about  25  rods  wide  147,  It. 
rising  5  feet  from  its  east  side  and  descending  10  feet  to  its  western  baso.  'feeco 
whi(!li  was  the  margin  of  Lake  Agassiz.  sftpd  1( 

Thence  the  upper  beach  extends  nearly  due  north  through  the  east  tlie  sen 
edge  of  Sec.  4,  same  township,  and  Sec, 33,  T.  147,R.44  (Garfield).  lutli'  th^  we; 
east  edge  of  the  SE.  i  of  Sec.  28  and  the  west  edge  of  the  NW.  ^  of  SociiB|t'.s  i 
27,  T.  147,  R.  44,  it  is  a  typical  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand,  with  its  cres!N"|?V^.  ^ 
1,100  to  1,1 73  feet  above  the  sea.  There  is  a  gradual  descent  toward  the  |D'i)p( 
west.    The  depression  on  the  east  is  a  sixth  to  a  fourth  of  a  mile  wide,o<S&teui 

(420) 


--i*^ 


tnuu.,15  ««r>'"'  I  TIKUMAN    MKAfMI    F\    MINNKSOl  A.  35 

)Othlv  roundci  ■Jf'^^'^ff  '*'  ^^  ^^  ^^^^^  bclovr  tlio  beach.     Farther  castwiud  tlic  land  is 
irossed  bv  tin  BltMb'iatt'ly  undulating  till,  rising  20  to  30  feet  abovts  the  beach  and 
NW  +  of  8t'i  tjtaiinj;  friMjuent  j^rovea  of  small  implars,  bur  oak,  and  canoe  birch, 
rods  wide  ain      ^V'^t^''"  ''i  Sand  Hill  lliver,  at  the  ford  of  the  old  IVnibina  trail,  in  the 
j^Ip  '  '      west  part  of  Sec.  28,  T.  147,  R.  44,  ordinary  low  stage,  July  20,  1881, 

1^71  feet. 
K  LAKE.  Kvcn  (Iriidvig's  house  threshold,  at  the  top  ot  the  blulf  north  of  this 

ford,  in  the  north  half  of  the  NW.  .^of  this  Sec.  28,  l,i;3()  feet, 
ying  mostly  oi  avikmi  T;ake  Agassiz  stood  at  its  greatest  height,  the  Sand  Hill  lliver 
4  (Wild  Itiec,  li^onght  into  its  margin  a  delta  G  miles  long  from  south  to  north  an<l 
dge  afibrdedi  3  in  lies  wide,  reaching  from  the  upper  beach  to  the  west  side  of  T.  147, 
ed  north  of  \h  »,  .^  ((Jarfield),  and  T.  14G,  R.  44  (Sundal).  This  Avestwardly  sloping 
he  Saint  Paul  J^^posit  of  stratified  gravel  and  sand  has  about  an  e<iual  area  and  thick . 
e  sea,  near  tin  n^.^s  with  the  delta  of  the  BuflVilo  River  at  Muskoda.  Upon  this  delta 
les  north  of  tlit  j^in  dmu's  have  been  heaped  up  by  the  winds,  jirobably  before  veg(> 
le  lirstobserva  tation  had  spread  over  this  area  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  gbicial  lake. 
);  T.  140,  R.  4;.  ]„  ti,o  Nouth  half  of  Sec.  32,  T.  147,  R.  44  (Garfield),  aiul  in  a  belt 
W,Li(!li  thence  extends  approximately  north  and  south,  the  sand  of  tliis 
,r  the  middled  ^ifj,^  j,s  originally  deposited,  rises  eastward  with  a  slope  of  25  or  .'>(> 
esterly  throu;,'L  ftjet  in  1  mile,  from  1,100  to  1,125  or  1,130  feet  above  the  sea.  IJeiieatii 
1  0,  same  town  i\^\^  plane,  however,  channels  have  been  eroded  by  the  winds  ami  sand- 
t  25  rods  wide,  jjjjjis  i>5  to  75  feet  above  it  have  been  blown  up  in  irregular  groups  and 
I  in  Sec.  30,  T  8eri<'s,  s(!attered  over  a  tract  about  a  mile  .3  and  extending  3  or  4 
mjles  southward  from  the  Sand  Hill  River,  in  Sec.  29,  the  northeast  ])arfe 
erman  beacli  ©fSci^  lU),  and  iu  Sees.  31  and  32,  T.  147,  R.  44  (darlield),  and  reaching 
was  observed,!  s^rtithward  iu  Sees.  5  and  8,  T.  140,  R.  44  (Sundal).    The  most  southern 

e  of  Sec.  14,  T  of  these  hills  is  an  isolated  group  in  the  east  part  of  the  NE.  '\  of  Sec. 
its  base,  with  ;  18,  T.  14(5,  R.  44  (Sundal).  Another  isolated  group  Hes  north  of  the 
laso,  clo.se  wes-  Siind  HiU  River,  in  the  NW.  ^  of  Sec.  10,  T.  147,  R.  44  (Garlield).  These 
)rtheast  cornci  sarn<l  dunes  are  in  part  bare,  being  so  frequently  drifted  by  the  winds  as 
ibly  10  feet  1)1' ta  allow  no  foothold  for  vegetation;  other  portions  are  clothed  with 

ove  its  base,    grass  or  with  bushes  and  scanty  dwarfed  trees,  including  bur  oak,  the 

e  upper  bead  coninion  aspen  or  poplar,  Cottonwood,  green  ash,  black  cherry,  and  the 

,T.  140,  R.  4;  frost  grape. 

1)  of  this  town     lOlevations  of  the  highest  points  of  these  dunes,  in  order  from  south 
Probably  tin  to  north,  are  approximately  1,190,  1,180,  and  1,200  feet.     The  highest 

nilo  east  of  tin  done  iii)i)ears  to  be  in  or  near  the  east  half  of  the  NB.  |  of  Sec.  30,  T, 

It  25  rods  wide  147,  U.  44  ((Jartield). 

3  western  baso.     Secondary  Herman  beach,  a  smoothly  rounded  ridge  of  gravel  and 
sand  10  to  15  feet  high  above  the  adjacent  level,  1,148  to  1,153  feet  above 

rough  the  east  the  scii,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east  of  the  old  Pembina  trail,  in 

irtield).   In  tin  the  west  half  of  Sees.  21  and  10,  T.  147,  li.  44  (Garfield),  extending  li 

I  NW.  :i  of  See  miles  north  from  the  Sand  Hill  River  to  the  cluster  of  dunes  iu  the 

,  with  its  cre.stNW.  J  of  Sec.  10. 

cnt  toward  tin     Ui)per  Herman  beach,  the  first  of  the  series  which  was  here  formed 

of  a  mile  wide,Q(H)temporaneously  with  the  single  Hertuan  beach  farther  south,  run. 

(421) 


k 


UPPER    UEACHES    OF   LAKE   AGAS8IZ. 


tfltiLl,.  M 


UTBAM.j 


iiiiig  approximately  from  south  to  north  through  or  near  the  northeast     ,_ 

corner  of  See.  4,  T.  147,  R.  44  (GarQehl),  a  smooth  gravel  ridge,  in  soim     ■Lxj^P 

parts  hidden  by  scattei'ed  groves,  l,H)~}  to  1,175  feet.     Farther  east  h  .P  ' 

a  large  are.u  of  woodhmd.     Second  Herman  beach,  in  the  east  part  (ii  ^,, 

ot  Sec 

'Ai)G.  f),  same  township,  and  Sec.  33,  T.  148,  11.  44  ((rodfrey),  about  a  mill  ^ 

west  from  the  upper  beach,  1,14!)  to  l,!;"),'}  feet ;  this  is  a  ridge  of  gravi  *tJ'^**  ' 
and  sand,  about  40  rods  wide,  with  very  gentle,  prolonged  slopes  towarc  ^^^  ^^ 
both  the  east  and  the  west.  Xatural  surface  at  tlu^  northeast  corner  (i: .  ^' 
Sec.  32,  T.  14,S,  li.  44  (Godfrey),  1,140  feet.  Third  lEermau  beach,  run  '".^JJ"". 
ning  north,  in  the  N\V.  '  of  Sec.  5,  T.  1 17,  II.  44  (Garfield),  and  the  west  ^^T,  ^ 
part  of  Sec.  .52,  T.  J4S,  H.  44  ((Godfrey),  a  half  or  two-thirds  of  a  mili  J"''^' 
west  from  tlie  last,  1,130  to  1,135  feet,  consisting  of  a  distinct  ridge  iii  .j)  ^1'* 
its  southern  part,  but  farther  north  being  a  Hat  area  of  gravel  and  sami  . 
slightly  elevated  above  the  laiul  next  east. 

Second  ITernuin  beacih,  a  broad  low  ri<lgo  of  gravel  and  saiul,  extend     .     ,'  * 
iug  nortli-northeast  ihrough  Sec.  28,  T.  14S,  K.  44  (Godfrey),  from  irv**^' 

soutliwest  corner  to  its  north  line,  1,148  to  1,150  feet.    The  northwaid     ^  '  '' 

i-         i'4-y  ■    \        I    •       ^        4\  4.4.       11        4.\  .-  rotinde 

<',ontinuation  ot  tins  beacrh  is  a  low,  tlattened  iidge,  the  western  one  o:    ^^^ 

two  paraUel  ridges  of  gravel  below  that  of  the  upi)er  beach,  extendiii'    *, 

bv  a  1 1 
jiortheasterh'  and  nortlu'rlv  through  or  near  tlui  west  edge  of  Sec.  Id,  "">  '     . 

"  '  6W5<1  wi 

same  townsliii),  1,150  to  1,154  feet.     Through  the  m^xt  3  miles  in  Sec    ^ 

3,  same  township,  and  in  the  east  ])art  of  Se<'s.  .'{5  and  20  and  the  N\V,     ; 

[of  Sec.  25,  T.  II!),  11.  II  (Tilden),  it  is  a  prominent  beivh.  ridge,  witli^"'"^ 

its  crest  at  1,153  to  1,101  i'cet,  somewhat  steei)  on  its  east  side,  wiiicl,- 

S6C  30 
descends  about  10  feet  to  a  belt  of  lowland  and  marsh  that  divides  ii    ^',      ' 

from  the  parallel  beacii  a  quarter  to  a,  third  of  a  mile  east. 

The  eastern  of  tli;'se  parallel  beai.'h  ridges  isonly8  or  10  feet  below  tli 

averages  elevation  of  the  upper  beach.    It  probably  marks  a  slight  fall  i 


The  I 


th«  lak 

the  water  surface  at  this  latitude;  but,  as  no  corresponding  Ik^icIi  forma.     ,  ,,  . 

IU#  till.'' 
tion  has  been  observed  in  Dakota,  it  is  neglected  in  the  foregoing  tahli  j^f  -j^., 

of  elevations  of  the  beaclu^s  of  Lake  Agassiz.     It  is  cleu'.'lv  (5ontinuoii>,    ^  \ 

8  miles,  the  first  4  miles  extending  mu'therly  and  the  next  4  miles  east      i 

crly.    These  parts  a.r(3  connected  in  Sec.  25,  T.  141),  li.  44  (Tilden),  by,^^  '"*'" 

graceful  cui'v«>,  that  portion  of  this  beach  and  its  evttsit  thence  ea^l     ..    '. 

war<l  l»eing  known  as  the ''A ttix ridge,"  from  ITenrv  and  William  Atlix  , 

brothers,  who  have  built  their  houses  upon  it.     In  its  nortliward  coursi,  . 

nearlv  through  the  middle  of  Sees.  10  and  4,  T.  148,  U.  44  (Godfre\  :*-^  "" 

)ioeac 
its  crest  is  at  1,158  to  1,103  feet ;  in  the  west  edg«3  of  Sec.  .30,  T.  110,  i;    J,  ^ 

44  (Tilden),  and  along  its  curved  course;  to  the,  north<>ast  and  east  at  tin 

west  and  north  si(h's  of  Sec.  25  and  in  the  southeast  part  of  Sec.  L'l       ' 

same  township,  1,103  to  1,108  fcot,  and  in  Sc^cs.  21  and  22,  T.  140,  I?,,  i;*^ 

(Grove  Park),  1,171  to  1,173  feet.     Slougii,  a  third  to  a  naif  of  a  mil'     - 

wide,  extendiitg  along  the  east  si«h'  of  this  beach,  in  Sec.  3,  T.  148,  lii_^ 

44  (Godfrey),  and  in  the  southeast  part  of  T.  140,  II.  44  (Tilden),  1,155  ti  ^'."^ 


mi 
'elitioii 


[aXTLL,  IIJ 


uiftAM. 


HERMAN   IJEACII    IN    MINNESOTA. 


37 


tlie  nortlieasi     __  ,       ,  .    ^,     ^1,.^   ,     ,.,^       -.-  m  ,  .  ,  ,.   . ,    ^    ,,. 

. ,    ^  .     ,      •    |U  1)1)01-  beacli  lu  the  SVV.  j  ot  Sec.  11,  T.  US,  It.  41  (Godtrey),  lornim*,^ 

?.  .M  '     ».    f  •  *i>l''''"  **'  stratilied  j^ravel  and  sand  a  quarter  or  a  tliird  of  a  mile  wide 
,      ' "'       £lfem  east  to  west,  1,IG8  to  1,173  leet.    This  beach  near  the  south  side 


le  east  part  (ti 


ot  y<'<'.  11  becomes  a  distinct  ;^ravel  ridge  of  the  usual  character,  about 

!''""""'' '"  """  011  rods  wide,  with  its  crest  at  1,173  feet,  bordered  by  a  slous;h  20  to  -H> 

,^        . *'  '     .  riJiBs  wide  at  its  east  side.    About  a  third  of  a  mile  farther  southe.ist 
slopes  towarc    ^-  ~.        ,  .     1.  ^,  ,  ,.,.,., 

,        .  a$ia  some  JjO  rods  west  ot  the  southwest  extremity  ot  JMaple  J.ake, 

iftiSec.  14,  same  township,  the  eleyation  of  this  beach  ridge  is  1,175  to 


an  beach,  run  ^4-,,  ^.    ^ 

),  and  the  west    \,     ,    t    ,  *  c       t  1    no  100,    ^  -,  ..^  ^    ^ 

:\   ,      ,.        .,      JMaple  Lake,  water  surface  Ji'.ly  28,  1881,  1,101)  feet, 
birds  of  a  null     ,  '  ,,         ,     i  ,    •,       •     .,  .     . 

.  ,  . ,  ^  .  Upper  beach,  toj)  oi  its  well  marked  grayel  ridge  m  the  east  edge  ot 
stinct  rulge  11,  ^^^  ^^^^  ,  ^^^.^^^^^  ^j,^  ,  ^^^.  ^^^^^^  .,^  ^^  148,  It.  44  (Godfrey),  about  20  rods 
i-ayel  and  «an.i^^^,^  ^^|.  ^^^^  ji^,,^,^,,,^^  1  l^,,  ^^^ 

-       ,      ,     Beyond  this  point,  through  its  next  2A  miles,  curying  from  a  north- 

I     >.^;|,]|(l      eXteiHl  t.  I  rrr  ^70 

,,.'    ,  '..  '      .,  \*^rd  to  a  northeastward  and  eastward  course,  this  un|)er  beacii  of 
Krey),  Ironi  ils^il,       .  .     .  •/•       ^1         1  •,  •.    i    /•       •  • 

,,,    "  "    ^,         .Lake  Agassiz  is  magnihcently  exhibited,  ((►rining  a  niassiye,  gently 
I  he  northwai'il   ■  70  7  >->       ^ 

rounded  ridg*"!  of  gravel  and  sand  about  30  rods  aeross,  Avitii  its  crest 
western  one  oL  4^^,  ^     1  lo^- <•    *.     i         n  1*  •    1      1       i        •.  ..i        ^       i 

..    1,178  to  1,1M*  teet  above  the  sea.     It  is  bordered  on  its  soutlieast  side 

',  '  ■  ^"  ,  "b#  51  tra(;t  of  slightly  undulating  till  10  to  15  feet  lower,  mostly  cov- 
d"'e  ot  01"''.  Ml      '  .-•      ./  CT  7  .. 

,^    .,      .  "  ,^    erfed  with  small  timber  and  brush  and  holding  fre(Hient  sloughs  ami 

3  miles  in  Sec,  _    ,        •      ■,      ,  •  ,-.,      4.        !•  ..1     1        ,    •         ^  "111. 

.  .,     ^-....lakeh  IS  m  its  depressions.     iJie  top  or  the  beach  is  not  woodeil,  but 
(J  and  the  NW         ,,  ^  ,  ,      i  ,  •,      1  »         i       *.      i      1 

,     .,  .  .smtdl  trees  and  bushes  eiujroach  ui»on  its  slopes.    A  road  extends  along 

'*'*!•  rid""e   witli 
■       .    •"'  '     .   the  crest  of  its  curving  i)ortion  for  a  distance  of  about  1  mile  through 

,        ,^' . ,  "'':S^.  30,  T.  140,  It.  44  (Tilden). 
th'it  divides  i' 

The  marsii  which  borders  the  northwest  side  of  the  northeast  part  of 

,        ,  Mski)Ie  Lake  shows  a  descent  of  5  to  7  feet  northwestward,  or  away  from 
)  feet  below  tin.,  :^ ,  ,      ...       -lii     <•  1  *     11       -i         -ir     1    t    i     •  <-  "1  r 

„  ,,  .  tii<B  lake,  m  its  widtii  ot  Itol.V  miles      Jlaine  Lake  is  prevented  irom 

•iaslightfali  iifl   .  .       •     .1       T      4^-      1         i"  1  nil         /I      I    1     • 

",    -        flowing  in  this  directum  l)y  a  beaver  dam  near  the  lake.     Creek  diain- 

<>•  IxMch  forinii.   £1,,,'.  ,      ,        -^  ■   ,  l    4.,  i        1  xi  1.  i-        i- 

lUijI  this  marsh  where  it  inti'.rseers  the  upper  beacli  near  the  east  hue  ol 

regoing  tabli^.^  -^j,,^  ,  ^^^.  y^,^.^  ^,_  ,,,_  j „^^  ^,    ,,.  ,(j,.^,^.^,  i,^„,,.v    j  i,;.,  j.^.^^j.^     jj^.,.^^  ^j^^ 

y  continuoib,    i.    1       ,  •   ,.         ti  u       •  1        r  *i  i     •  n    ^    i  •*     i-  I 

b«|ch  skirting  the  north  side  ol  tlio  marsh  is  a  flat  <lei)osit  ot  gravel 

J  ^  nil  L.  t.  s  ^^  sand,  a  fourth  to  a  half  of  a  mile  or  more  in  width,  highe.;t  next  to 

4  ( 1  ildeii),  bvii.  ,i.  1      ,  1  •  1   -t    •        -  i.    c.  ^'    (  •  I       *      i"  li      1 

,  '    ■  tiwimarsh,  above  which  it  rises  .>  to 8 feet  m  a  moderate  slope.     Us  ole- 

it  thence  ea^t^^^.^^^^  in  the  north  half  of  Sees.  20  and  27  is  1,1<;0  to  1,172  .ei't,,  being 
3V«i)  1  or 2  feet  lower  than  the  xVltix  ridge,  which  lies  some  two-thirds 

thward  couiw^^^^  ^^^.j^^  farther  north,  in  the  south  half  of  Sees.  21  and  22.  Tiiis  belt 
"  ^  '* '  * ',  )f  bea(!h  gravel  and  santl  continues  (i  miles  in  a  nearly  due  east  course, 
**'**'■      ' '   'md  beyond  th"^  it  extends  still  eastward  along  the  north  sideof  a  great 

and  east,  at  t'l'        ,^..^^.,.  ^^vu,..i),  which  begins  in  Sec.  34,  T.  140,  11.  12,  and  is  said  to 

>ait  o    k  ec.  -  jQ  0  miles  long.    Mai)Ie  Lake  and  this  tamarack  swami)  hold  the  same 

"*  T  1 10  1?    I    , 

'"''     '.    '.'     ■    "d^titm  to  the  iii)per  bea(!h  ridge,  which  was  a  barrier  betweiui  them 

'  •'"'•,'**  '*' ""  md  '-.tke  Agassi/  and  which  now  wholly  or  partially  obstructs  the 

I'c.  3,  T.  148   'iminage  of  these  areas,, 

Liuien;,  J,ioJ  I  dJliird  irerman  beacli,  a  small  ridge  of  gravel  and  saud,  extending 
rom  southwest  to  northeast,  8  to  10  rods  wide  and  rising  4  or  5  feet, 
'-rOised  by  the  Orooicstoii  road  in  the  SVV\  \.  of  Sec.  23,  T.  149,  II.  4.4 

(423) 


38 


UPPEli    13KACHES    OF   LAKE   AGASSIZ. 


[HUU,.M,      tfVBAM.] 


(Tihlen),  and  socii  to  reach  at  least  a  mile  each  way  from  this  road,  1,1  Hi 
to  1,149  feet. 

I^atunil  surface  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Sec.  15,  same  townshiji, 
1,1 3  i  feet. 

Fourth  llernuin  beach,  crossed  by  road  to  Orookston  and  Red  Lake 
Falls  near  the  center  of  the  SE.  I  of  this  Sec.  15,  1,132  to  1,134  feel, 
This  is  a  well  marked  gravel  ridge,  mainly  single,  but  twofold  where  ii 
is  crossed  by  this  road.  The  distance  of  1  mile  hero  between  thesi 
third  and  fourtli  Herman  beaches  consists  of  till,  with  a  nearly  smootli 
surface,  which  has  bowlders  up  to  3  and  rarely  5  feel  in  diameter  (juiu 
numerously  scattered  over  it.  Southeastward  from  die  third  to  the  llrst 
or  upper  beach  the  surface  mostly  is  modified  drift,  with  no  bowlders, 

Four  to  live  miles  north  from  the  fourth  Herman  bea<;h  the  road  t(i 
Red  Lake  Falls  crosses  the  Norcross  beach  in  Sec.  27,  T.  150,  It.  41 
(Lake  Fleasant),  where  it  is  a  belt  of  gravel  and  sand  about  a  half  miK 
wide,  extending  from  west-southwest  to  east-northeast,  at  an  elevation 
of  1,083  to  1,01)5  feet. 

THE  UPPER  OR  HERMAN  BEACH  IN  DAKOTA. 

[Seo  tlio  su'conipnnyint;  iiiai),  IMato  I.] 
FUOM   l.AKE  TllAVEUSE  NOliTIIWEST   TO  MILNOK. 

From  tlui  south  extremity  of  Lake  Agassiz,  in  Sec.  IS,  T.  125,  K.  45 
(Leonardsville),  Traverse  County,  Minn.,  the  upper  or  Herman  beac.li 
extends  northwestward  75  miles  to  the  most  southern  bend  of  tin 
Sheyenne  River  in  Ransom  County,  Dakota,  and  tlience  its  coursi 
is  nearly  due  north,  but  with  slight  dellection  westward,  to  the  inter- 
national  boundary.  The  mouth  of  Lake  Agassiz  was  where  now  ;i 
slough  2  to  3  mih'S  wide,  with  fre<iuent  areas  of  open  water,  stretches 
iu)rtlnvard  from  the  northeast  end  of  Lake  Traverse.  On  the  westsidt 
of  til  is  slough  and  of  Lake  Traverse  bluffs  of  till  rise  100  to  125  feel; 
their  tops  and  the  rolling  surface  of  till  which  extends  thence  west 
ward  are  1,070  to  1,100  feet  above  the  sea. 

The  Ijeginning  of  the  ui)[)er  or  Herman  beach  in  Dakota  is  in  Sees. 
10,  3,  and  4,  T.  12S,  R.  48,  nearly  2  mile^  south  from  the  north  line  o\ 
the  Sisseton  and  Wahpeton  reservation.  It  rises  with  teirncelikc 
steepness  20  or  30  IV'ct  above  the  surface  of  undulatiiui;  till  which  boi 
ders  it  on  llui  iKutheast.  its  material  is  sand  and  gravel,  with  pebbl(> 
u[)  to  11  or  2  inches  in  diameter,  about  half  of  which  are  limestone. 
Reyond  its  steep  margin  this  deposit  of  bea(!h  gravel  forms  a  belt 
about  a  n'Ue  wide,  approximately  level,  but  with  fre(|ucnt  short  swells 
and  hnv  llattened  ridges  5  to  10  «.f  i5  feet  above  the  intervening  fl< 
]tressions.  Its  elevation  is  1,000  to  1,070  feet  above  the  8( ,.,  '»r  frcMU'"' 
to  100 feet  above  Lake  Tra'.erse. 


Foi 
withi 
Sec.  3 
vest  ( 
towns 

Int 
Allen 
vatioi 
is  hei 
faet  ii 
beach 
ing  m 
SE.  ^ 
tike  s 
portic 
soil  a 

»U  '    ( 

slight 
Th( 
at  its 
of  the 
the  II 
local i 
feet 
lior 
at  tin 
ridgi 

WDd 

the 

high  I 
beyo 
disti 
Til 
ing 
to  till 
of 
feet 
twee 
fi-aN 
fide 
l,0(i 
20  f 
ridj 
Ing 
©lev 


[IIUI.I,.  IW,      UTBAM.I 


HERMAN    BEACH    IN   DAKOTA. 


39 


lis  road,  1,1  It; 

no  town.sliip, 

i<l  Red  Liikt 

to  1,134  feci, 

)fol(l  wliere  ii 

etween  tliesi 

learly  siiiootli 

amcter  «iiiit( 

rd  to  the  liist 

no  bowldois, 

I  the  road  lu 

T.  150,  11.  U 

lit  a  half  mi  If 

t  au  elevation 


'A. 


5,  T.  12o,  U.  15 
iennaii  beach 
I  bend  of  tin 
ice  its  eoursi 
,  to  the  inter- 
wiiore  no.v  ;i 
ater,  strel  iho 
n  tlie  westsidi 
DO  to  ILT)  led: 
i  thence  west 

)ta  is  in  Sees. 
)  north  line  oi 
th  terrace  I  ike 
ill  which  bor 
1,  with  i>ebblc.> 
ire  liinestoiu'. 
forms  a  bilt 
it  short  swells 
itervenini;  .'k 
H'-,,  or  Trodi''!' 


For  its  first  3  or  4  miles  the  terracelike  margin  of  the  beacih  sweeps 
with  a  gentle  curve  westerly  and  northerly  to  a  point  in  the  S\V.  j-  of 
Sec.  34,  T.  129,  K.  48,  where  it  turns  quite  abruptly,  taking  a  nearly  due 
west  course  for  the  next  3  miles  to  the  west  side  of  Sec.  31  of  this 
townshi]). 

In  the  NW.  i  of  Sec.  3,  T.  128,  E.  48,  a  third  of  a  mile  east  of  W.  J. 
Allen's  house,  the  ascent  at  the  beach  margin  is  about  10  feet  to  an  ele- 
vation of  1,000  feet,  approximately.  The  belt  of  sand  and  fine  gravel 
is  here  about  a  half  mile  wide.  Occasional  hummocks,  rising  5  to  10 
feet  and  50  to  100  feet  long,  which  were  observed  on  this  part  of  the 
beach,  appear  to  have  been  heaped  up  by  the  wind  before  the  protect- 
ing mantle  of  grass  and  other  vegetation  was  spread  over  it.  In  the 
8E.  \  of  Sec.  32,  T.  129,  E.  48,  similar  dunes,  1,075  to  1,080  feet  above 
the  sea,  have  been  excavated  for  use  as  plastering  sand.  Nearly  all 
portions  of  this  beach  and  even  its  dunes  are  now  covered  with  a  black 
soil  and  nlentiful  vegetation ;  but  certain  species  preferring  dry  and 
S3  j'lv  ""'.  as  the  dwarf  rose,  grow  in  greater  abundance  on  the  beach, 
au  '  c'^;  M;lally  among  its  hammocks  and  hollows,  than  on  the  flat  or 
sUghti;y  undulating  surface  of  till  at  each  side. 

The  margin  of  this  Herman  beach,  marking  the  shore  of  Lake  Agasslz 
at  its  maximum  stage,  passes  in  its  western  course  about  (JO  rods  north 
of  the  southeast  cornerof  Sec.  32and  turns  again  to  the  north wtist  near 
the  middle  of  the  west  side  of  Sec.  31,  T.  129,  K.  48.  At  the  latter 
locality  it  is  a  low  wavelike  ridge  of  sand  and  fine  gravel,  about  1,0C(» 
feet  above  the  sea.  On  the  south  it  is  bordered  by  land  3  to  5  feet  lower 
for  a  width  of  one  and  a  half  miles.  J.  R.  Grimesey's  well,  13  feet  deep, 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  See.  31,  on  this  low  tract  outside  the  beach 
ridge,  encountered  only  very  fine  strati  tiiid  sand,  irregularly  laminated 
and  containin:'  mnMerous  tubular  limonitic  concretions.  Farther  to 
the  southwes',  mA  west,  a  gently  undulating  surfacio  of  till,  scarcely 
higher  tlia  l.s-  biach  of  Lake  Agassiz,  stretches  away  several  miles, 
beyond  whiih  >  ir.  Lighland  of  the  Coteau«les  Prairies  is  seen  in  the  far 
distance. 

The  Herman  beach  crosses  T.  129,  R.  49,  in  a  diagonal  course,  enter- 
ing it  a  half  mile  north  of  its  southeast  corner  Jind  running  northwest 
to  the  north  side  of  Sees.  5  and  0.  In  Sec.  23  and  the  northeast  part 
of  Sec.  22,  its  elevation  is  about  1,(»55  feet;  but  its  dunes  rise  3  or  4 
feet  higlier.  At  the  middle  of  the  north  side  of  Sec.  10,  on  the  line  be- 
tween Roberts  and  Richland  Counties,  it  is  a  ridge  (jf  sand  and  fine, 
giavel  {'.'•';  .0  8  rods  Avide,  rising  4  to  G  feet  above  tlui  lar.d  on  each 
■Ide.  Itis  '  '  •  licre,  and  for  a  mile  to  the  southeast  and  northwest,  is 
1,000  to  l,0«i  ieet  above  the  sea.  Northeastward  the  surface  falls  about 
20  feet  in  the  first  mile.  On  the  southwest  side  of  this  distiru;t  beach 
ridge,  a  smooth,  slightly  undulating  tract  li  to  2  miles  wide,  extend- 
ing through  this  township,  consists  of  sand  and  fine  clayey  silt.  Its 
©levaf  i'ju  varies  from  1,055  to  1,080  feet,  attaining  tlie  latter  height  in 

(425) 


40 


UrPER   JIHACIIKS    OF    LAKE    AGASSIZ. 


[IIUI,L.:)9.     UPHiiM.I 


the  northwest  part  of  tlio  towiiship.  This  belt,  with  its  coiitiiiuatioii  Her 
.southeastward,  previously  described,  was  doubtless  covered  by  Laki  feet  hi 
Agassiz  before  the  erosion  of  its  outlet  to  the  level  of  the  [[ernum  iiorth\ 
beach  ;  but  much  of  its  stratilied  sand  and  silt  may  be  moditied  drill  flat  pi; 
deposited  by  streams  from  the  meltiuj;  ice  sheet.  The  glacial  recession  as  far 
hero  was  from  soutliwestto  northeast,  and  this  wjis  probably  an  aveniu  Agass 
of  drainage  during  a  short  time,  till  the  continued  retreat  of  the  ice  left  that  « 
a  considerable  expanse  of  water,  the  beginning  of  Ijake  Agassiz,  be  dulatii 
tween  itself  and  the  shore.  .  One 

In  tlie  north  part  of  Sees.  5  and  0,  T.  129,  R.  49,  and  in  Sees.  31  ami  by  a  b 
32,  T.  130,  li.  19,  this  beach  consists  of  two  or  three  i)arallel  wavelik(   its  on 
ridges  of  gravel  and  sand,  divided  by  depressions  an  eighth  to  a  quartw  is  filler 
of  a  mile  wide  and  5  to  10  feet  lower.  mile  w 

This  belt  reaches  north  to  the  Lightning's  (or  Thunder's)  Nest,  a  high  \\ 
massive  dune  of  line  sand, ;  rt^-;  bare  and  now  wind  blown,  but  mostly  low  w: 
covered  witli   bushes  and  lu  .  situatetl  near  tlie  center  of  Sec  appro> 

30,  T.  130,  II.  49.  Its  base  on  t  :  south  is  1,000  feet  and  its  top  l,lL'(i  man  b 
feet,  approximately,  above  the  sea.  Jt  covers  a  space  about  a  quar  mere  i 
ter  of  a  mile  iu  extent  froiu  soiitlieast  to  northwest,  with  nearly  as  matioi 
great  width,  and  ris(\s  in  two  summits  of  nearly  etpuil  height.  Tin  proper 
Lightning's  Xest  is  the  most  ijromiuent  iu  a  series  of  dunes,  elsewhero  River, 
rising  only  10  to  30  IVet,  mostly  grassed,  which  extends  a  mile  or  more  two-th 
to  tlie  soutlieast  and  is  traceable  several  miles  northwest  to  the  east  Korl 
end  of  a  very  conspicuous  tract  of  dunes  50  to  100  feet  above  adjacent  Wynd 
level,  with  summits  at  ],lt)0  to  1,150  feet  above  the  sea,  which  stretches  mere,  i 
about  4  miles  in  a  west -noith  west  course*  in  the  south  part  of  T.  131,  K.  the  ad. 
50,  1  to  2  miles  south  of  the  Wild  Rice  River.  ]>y  winds,  eroding  and  railroa 
drifting,  these  sand  hills  were  heajied  up  from  tlun  Herman  beach  and  third  ( 
its  associated  belt  of  moditied  drift,  probably  soon  after  the  retreat  surrou 
of  the  ice,  though  their  forms  have  been  constantly  changing  since  that  higher 
tinu\  fore  cj 

Outside  the  area  of  Lake  Agassiz,  the  southwest  part  of  Richland  the  a<l 
County  is  till,  mostly  iiiululating  or  moderately  rolling,  butin  part  promi-  ridge  : 
nently  hilly,  with  rough  morainic  contour  and  abundant  bowlders.  Tay-  faythe 
lor  Lake,  approximately  1,050  feet  above  the  sma,  2^  miles  west  of  the  west, 
Lightning's  Nest,  is  a  very  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  bordered  by  a  sandy  The 
shore  and  a  large  grove  on  the  north  and  by  a  shore  of  bowlders  and  surfac 
morainic  hills  50  to  150  feet  above  the  lake  on  the  west.  These  hills  ceiith 
and  most  of  the  lakes  farther  west  in  this  county  have  no  tind)er.  North  mere 
eastward  i\m  area  that  was  covered  by  Ijake  Agassiz  is  mostly  smooth  t^<&  ^^'^ 
and  nearly  Hat  till,  with  fiecpient  marshy  tracts  called  sloughs,  but  with  PW)'»i 
only  very  rare  and  small  lakelets.  a-*  ^A^ 

Swan  Lake,  3  nnles  long,  reaching  from  Se(!.  3  to  Sec.  7,T.  130,  R.  51,  courst 
estimated  1,070  feet  above  the  sea,  with  undulating  till  5  to  10  feet  134j  •» 
higher  on  the  northeast  ami  10  to  20  feet  higher  on  the  south  and  *J»«  >"*'■ 
west.  OOyerc 

(42G)  S 


[Bui,L.,i9    opHAM.l  HERMAX    IJKACH    m    DAlvO'J'A.  41 

I  coiitiiiuatioii  Herniiin  beucli,  a  ii(l.nc  of  niio  sand,  20  to  2~>  rods  wide  and  about  3 
ered  by  Lalufeet  lii.i>li,  lu'ar  the  south  line  ol"  See.  .'50,  T.  132,  II.  52,  extendinj?  west- 
["  tlie  lEermaii  northwevSt,  i»])i)roxiniiitel.y  1, ()(!,">  IVet.  On  tlie  nortli,  the  oxeeedinju'ly 
modified  drift  flat  plain  of  Lake  Agassiz,  sinl:in<>-  very  slowly  northeastward,  reaches 
icial recession  as  far  as  the  eye  can  see.  On  the  south,  Hat  hind,  covered  by  Lake 
blj^  aii  avenue  Agassi/  belbre  the  time  ol"  this  beach,  continues  l.V  miles,  ascendin«if  in 
of  the  ice  left  that  distance  froni  l,0(ib  feet  to  about  1,080  feet,  and  moderately  un- 
>  Agassiz,  be   dulating  till  rises  beyond  to  1,100  and  1,125  feet. 

One  and  a  half  miles  north  ol'  this  beach  the  Wild  Itice  Hi  ver  is  crossed 

Sees.  31  ami  by  a  brid.ue  near  tlus  (tenter  of  Sec.  25,  T.  132,  It.  52.     The  stream  in 

allel  wavelikc  its  ordinary  sta<^c  is  1  to  2  rods  wide,  with  a  depth  of  about  3  I'eet,  and 

li  to  a  quarter  is  filled  with  j^rass  and  rushes.    Its  bottom  land,  a  sixth  to  a  third  of  a 

mile  wide,  is  about  10  feet  hif«her  and  is  annually  overtlowed  by  the 

der's)  JS'est,  a  higli  water  in  sprin<;f.     Its  blulfs  rise  about  40  feet  above  the  river  at 

V'u,  but  mostly  low  water,  the  elevation  of  their  to^)  and  of  the  adjoiuinj;'  plain  being, 

jenter  of  Sec,  approximately,  1,050  feet.    These)  blulfs  and  the  surface  from  the  ller- 

l  its  top  1,12(1  man  beach  north  to  Elk  Creek  are  till,  but  the  country  about  Wynd- 

about  a  quai    mere  and  south  to  Jjlk  Creek  is  stratilied  line  clayey  sand.    Both  for- 

ith  nearly  as  mations  have  a,  very  fertile  soil,  unsurpassed  for  wheat  and  all  erojjs 

height.    Till'  proper  to  this  latitude.     iOlk  Creek  is  a  stream  similar  to  the  Wild  Mice 

es,  elsewhere   River,  but  smaller,  and  the  width  and  depth  of  its  valley  are  about 

mile  or  more   two-thiids  as  great. 

ist  to  the  east  Northern  I'acilic,  Fergus  Falls  and  lilack  Hills  liailroad :  track  at 
•ove  adjacent  Wyndmere,  1,000  feet;  at  the  Herman  beach  1 A  miles  west  of  Wynd- 
iich stretches  mere,  track  1,001  and  crest  of  the  beach  1,005  feet,  rising  8  feet  above 
tof  T.  131,  li.  the  adjacent  land  20  rods  away  both  east  and  west;  surface  along  the 
,  eroding  and  railroad  (hence  westward  8  miles,  1,000  to  1,003  feet,  with  Star  Lake,  a 
iiU  beach  and  third  of  a  mile  in  <li;-!neter  on  this  level  area,  only  2  or  3  feet  below  the 
■V  the  retreat  surrounding  land,  close  north  of  the  railroad,  in  Sec.  5,  T.  l.'>2,  l*.  52;  a 
ing  since  that  hlglier  l)each  of  Lake  Agassi/,  crossed  3  miles  eastof  iAUlnor,  and  there- 
fore called  the  Milnor  beach,  crest  and  track,  1 ,0S3  feet,  i  or  5  feet  above 
}  of  liichlaml  the  adjoining  land  10  rods  away  both  east  and  west;  another  beach 
inpartpromi-  ridge  formed  during  tlu^  same  stage  of  I^ake  Agassiz,  a  third  of  a  mile 
wlders.  Tay-  farther  -west,  crest  and  grade,  1,081  feet;  land  close  east,  1,070,  and 
i  west  of  the    west,  1,070  feet;  track  at  JMilnor,  1,0!>5  feet. 

edbyasaudy  The  llei-man  beach  west  and  north  of  Wyndmere  has  an  irregular 
bowlders  and  surface,  with  fre<iuent  hummocks  of  sand  heaped  5  to  10  feet  above  adja- 
Tliese  hills  cent  hollows.  Most  of  these  <lunes  are  now  grassed.  Prom  near  Wynd- 
mber.  North-  mere  this  bv'acli,  with  frequent  small  dunes,  exteiuls  north  through 
lostly  snmotli  thi©  ^^'^^-'^t  edge  of  T.  133,  li.  51,  and  Ihence  westerly  to  another  tract  of 
ghs,  but  witli  prominent  dunes  50  to  100  feet  above  adjacent  surface,  with  their  tops 
at  1,100  to  1,150  feet,  which  extends  about  10  miles  in  a  west-northwest 
T.  130  K.  51  course  from  the  southwest  part  of  T.  131,  11.  52,  to  the  east  part  of  T. 
5  to  10  feet  134,  H.  51,  terminating  abour  2  miles  east  of  the  Sheyenne  lliver.  Like 
10  south  and  *^®  similar  high  dunes  south  of  the  ^Vild  Mice  Kiver,  these  are  mainly 
covered  by  herbage,  bushes,  and  small  trees;  but  numy  portions  are 

(.127) 


-^j: 


42 


UPPER    BEACHES   OF    LAKE    AGA8SIZ. 


tiiL;u,.3i 


now  being  drifted  by  the  winds,  so  that  tliey  are  wholly  dcstitnto  d 
vegetation.  These  dunes  mark  the  course  of  the  Ilerman  beacli,  hen 
greatly  increased  in  v^oluine  by  delta  deposits  from  the  Sheyenno  Kivei 

Morainic- knolls  and  hills,  rising  20  to  "lO  feet,  with  plentiful  bowlders 
lie  close  west  of  Milnor,  extending  in  a  belt  from  southeast  to  north 
west.  They  are  probably  a  continuation  of  the  Altamont  and  Gary  im, 
raines  of  the  Coteau  des  Prairies.  Near  Lisbon,  about  15  miles  uoitli 
west  from  Milnor,  some  of  these  morainic  hills  are  quite  cousi)icuoii,^ 
rising  100  feet  or  more  above  the  surrounding  country. 

Evidence  of  a  stage  of  Lake  Agassiz  20  or  30  feet  higher  than  tha 
of  the  Ilerman  beach  is  found,  as  already  noticed,  iu  many  ])laces  aloii, 
the  southern  part  of  its  boundary  in  Dakota.  The  portion  of  this  jrla 
cial  lake  formed  earliest  by  the  recession  of  the  ice  seems  to  have  reaclioi 
from  Lake  Traverse  to  the  Sheyenne  JJiver,  and  its  level  appears  to  Iiav 
been  then  nearly  that  of  the  general  surface  and  the  to[)  of  the  bliifi 
bordering  Lake  Traverse.  Distinct  traces  of  this  stage  of  the  ancieir 
lake  have  not  been  recognized  in  Minnesota,  nor  along  the  greater  par 
of  its  boundary  iu  Dakota,  from  the  Sheyenno  River  northward. 

FROM  jVIILNOR  NORTH  TO   SHELDON. 

The  highest  level  of  Lake  Agassiz,  near  Milnor,  is  marked  by  tli 
Milnor  beach,  already  mentioned,  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  railruail 
This  beach  is  fine  clayey  sand,  in  somewhat  irregular  and  interruptc 
low  ridges  and  terraces,  abutting  at  the  west  on  ujidulating  till,  whid 
gradually  rises  10  or  20  feet  higher,  while  on  the  east  a  descent  of  10  o 
15  feet,  within  about  20  rods,  i»  succeeded  by  a  Hat  area,  which  th^wK 
sijiks  very  slowly  northeastward.  The  elevation  of  the  Milnor  bcai 
at  the  railroad  is  1,084  feet,  and  at  Mr.  G.  V.  Dawson's  house,  at  tl. 
middle  of  the  east  side  of  Sec.  22,  T.  l.?3,  K.  54,  1,002  foet.  Its  coui> 
between  these  points  is  north-northwest,  and  this  is  continued  to  tli 
mouth  of  a  former  channel  of  the  Sheyenne  Kiver,  near  the  center  i 
Sec.  4  in  this  township,  3  miles  east  from  the  most  southern  bend  of  tli 
river. 

During  all  the  stages  of  Lake  Agassiz  the  Sheyenne  Kiver  brouj;! 
into  it  much  sediment,  carrying  the  clay  fiirthor  than  the  sand  an 
gravel,  which  were  laid  down  near  the  river's  mouth.  Extensive  area 
of  these  originally  flat  beds  have  been  changed  by  wiiul  action  to  irrc;n 
lar  groups  and  belts  of  sand  hills  or  dunes,  which  vary  from  a  few  t\'i 
to  more  than  a  hundred  feet  in  height  above  the  surrounding  Icvi 
Besides  the  large  tract  of  these  dunes  before  described  east  of  the  She} 
enno  River,  others  of  even  great(a'  extent  and  equally  conspicuous  hi> 
der  the  river  .and  reach  2  or  3  miles  from  it  in  the  northeast  part  of  ' 
135,  R.  54,  and  along  its  next  15  miles. 

Watercourses  formerly  occupied  by  this  stream  are  found  west  of  tl 
Milnor  beach.    One  of  theui  is  marked  by  a  sandy  flat,  which  reach' 

(428) 


UPHAH.] 

from  tl 
sdiiithe 
ottter  I 
about 
TMs  i 
of  iboai 
from  tl 
pndsen 
awidt 
b^h(;s 
iittlhes 
lUiti 
lin  < 


tifnof 
8l%ge!- 
pittbal 
gifavel 
of the  I 
ing  SU1 
Shej 
on  the 
hmth 
ti2oi 
b^wkh 
laud  n 
albve 
yliars 
d|iftw 
t^es  : 
#T.  1 

min 

ipoot 
lili; 

t^  ea 
Mindi 

tiibun( 

ll|&rl;y 

ttpm  ( 

4Bur 

1,037 
Por 
irtde, 
qiilles 
li»iirtl 


)  ■ 


[HULL.  3! 

y  th'stitiito  (! 
Ill  beucli,  Ir'Ii 
leyenueliivei 
tiful  bowlders 
least  to  iiortli 
-J  and  Gary  im, 
5  miles  iiortli 
conspicuous 

ber  than  tliii 
y  ])laces  aloii, 
on  of  this  ^'l;i 
o  have  reacliii 
ppears  to  hiiv 
p  of  the  bliifl 
of  the  ancieii 
he  greater  par 
thward. 


marked  by  tli 
y  the  railroad 
nd  interruptc 
ting  till,  whit' 
ilesc(Mit  of  10 ( 
11,  which  tluMK 
e  Milnor  beat 
's  house,  at  tl. 
;et.  Its  coui> 
)ntinued  to  tl; 
r  the  center  < 
ern  bend  of  tli 

)  Kiver  brou^l 
I  the  sand  an 
']xt(!iisive  aroii 
iction  to  iire;,n 
from  a  few  I'c 
L'ounding  levi 
ist  of  the  Sh(') 
onspicuous  Imi 
least  part  of ' 

)und  west  of  tl 
,  which  reaclii 


UPHAM.] 


HERMAN   BEACH   IN   DAltOTA. 


43 


frcwn  the  present  course  of  the  Sheyenne  River,  in  Sec.  1,  T.  13'),  R.  o.j, 
southeastward  through  T.  133,  R.  54,  to  the  vicinity  of  JNIilnor.  An- 
other runs  from  near  the  middle  of  the  SW.  ^  of  Sec.  32,  T.  131,  R.  54, 
about  l.i  miles  east-southeast  to  the  middle  of  Sec.  4,  T.  133,  R.  54. 
This  is  a  channel,  30  to  50  rods  wide,  about  40  feet  belo\y  a  ridge 
ofcoarse  gravel,  which  extends  along  its  northeast  side,  dividing  it 
from  the  lower  area  that  was  covered  by  Lake  Agassi;^  and  froni  the 
present  valley  of  the  river.  The  crest  of  the  ridge  is  nearly  Hat,  u\)on 
a  width  of  10  to  30  rods,  and  is  75  {o  100  feet  above  the  river,  being 
highest  westward.  It  contains  pebbles  and  cobbles  of  all  sizes  up  to  G 
iniihes  in  diameter,  about  half  being  limestone  and  nearly  all  the  others 
granitic.  This  ridge  or  ])lateau  of  gravel  is  a  remnant  of  an  old  delta 
plain  of  the  Sheyenne  River,  apparently  deposited  before  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Milnoi  beach,  above  which  it  rises  some  40  or  50  feet,  Avliich 
suggests  that  the  deserted  channel  of  that  depth  on  its  south  side  w  as 
ptobably  eroded  during  the  Milnor  stage  of  Lake  Agassiz.  Similar 
gravel  occurs  on  the  side  and  verge  of  the  bluff,  100  feet  high,  northwest 
of  the  Sheyenne  River,  in  the  SW.  J  of  Sec.  29,  T.  134,  R.  54,  but  a  roll- 
ing surface  of  till  extends  thence  northwest. 

Sheyenne  River  in  Sec.  32,  T.  134,  R.  54,  1,037  feet  above  the  sea,  and 
on  the  west  line  of  the  NW.  t  of  Sec.  29,  T.  135,  R.  54,  1,011)  feet.  Its 
bed  through  these  townships  is  mostly  4  to  G  rods  wide,  with  water  1 
to?  2  or  3  feet  deep,  and  is  strewn  in  many  places  with  cobbles  and 
bowlders  up  to  2  or  3  feet  and  rarely  G  or  8  feet  in  diameter.  Its  bottom- 
land near  the  south  bend,  about  a  third  of  a  mile  wide,  is  15  or  20  feet 
attove  the  ordinary  low  stage  of  water,  and  during  a  term  of  fourteen 
ytiars  preceding  this  survey  in  1885  it  had  not  been  overtlowed;  but 
dldftwood,  found  by  the  tirst  immigrants,  proves  that  the  river  some- 
ttines  reaches  this  height.  Bluffs  of  till  here,  in  the  southwest  corner 
fli'T.  134,  R.  54,  rise  100  to  125  feet  above  the  stream. 

Blulfs  of  till  close  west  of  the  Sheyenne  River,  in  Sec.  20,  T.  134,  R.  54, 
1,100  to  1,110  feet;  moderately  rolling  till  a  quarter  of  a  mile  farther  west, 
1^115  to  1,125  feet ;  same  in  Sees.  17  and  18, 1,090  to  1,130  fwi.;  and  on 
tie  east  side  of  the  river,  in  Sees.  21,  IG,  and  17, 1,085  to  1,075  feet,  de- 
SJS^nding  northeastward.  Prominent  swell  of  till  west  of  the  Slieyenne 
Blver  in  the  SB.  \  of  Sec.  30,  T.  135,  R.  54,  having  four  aboriginal 
miounds  on  its  crest,  1,113  feet;  top  of  these  mounds,  1,117  feet,  very 
BJiarly.  IliglK'st  portions  of  the  area  of  undulating  till  seen  westward 
from  this  Sec.  30,  3  or  4  miles  distant,  1,125  to  1,150  feet. 

Surface  at  Charles  G.  Froemke's  house,  in  the  NW.  |  of  Sec.  20,  T. 
13C,  R.  54,  1,073  feet;  bottom  land  of  the  Sheyenne  River  close  west, 
ly&37  to  1,027  feet;  ordinary  low  water  of  the  river,  1,010  feet. 

Portion  of  area  of  Lake  Agassiz,  a  strip  a  fourth  to  a  third  of  a  mile 
irtde,  west  of  the  Sheyenne  River,  in  Sees.  32  and  5,  a  half  mile  to  2 
Bjjles  south  of  Mr.  Froemke's,  1,065  to  1,075  feet.  Herman  beach  one- 
fOttrth  to  two-thirds  of  a  mile  east  of  the  Sheyenne  River  horo  and  ex- 

(429) 


u 


UPPKK  15EACHES   OF    LAKE   AGASSIZ. 


[HULL.  30. 


I    \i 


tendiug'  soutlieasterly  toward  tlie  western  limit  of  duiies  in  the  east  part 
/fT.  134,  It.  54,  1,073  to  1,071)  feet.  Crest  of  tliis  beach,  a  low  ridge  of 
sand  and  line  gravel,  at  J.  Altinanu's  honse,  near  the  middle  of  Sec. 
20,  T.  135,  K.  54,  1,073  feet.  Within  10  or  15  rods  east  there  is  a  de- 
scent of  about  10  feet.  This  beach  ridge  runs  north  and  northeasterly 
to  near  the  northeast  corner  of  this  Sec.  20,  and  thence  it  passes  east- 
ward about  3  miles,  having  an  elevation  of  1,075  to  1,0(»5  feet  to  where 
it  is  intersected  by  the  Sheyenne  lliver,  near  the  northeast  corner  of 
Sec.  14.  North  of  the  river  it  ctfntinues  about  a  half  mile  in  Se(!.  12, 
its  elevation  being  1,005  to  1,070  feet,  to  the  west  end  of  a  tract  of  dunes 
25  to  100  feet  above  Lheir  vicinity,  with  summits  at  1,100  to  1,150  feet, 
which  extends  thence  about  15  miles  eastward.  This  Herman  beach 
was  su'iicient  to  turn  the  course  of  the  Sheyenne  Kher  along  its  west 
and  north  side  for  :  distance  of  8  miles,  from  Sec.  0,  T.  134,  li.  54,  north  * 
and  east  to  Sec.  14,  T.  135,  II.  54,  though  it  is  only  a  ridge  of  sand  and 
gravel  5  to  10  feet  higher  than  the  smoothed  area  of  till,  occasionally 
covered  by  1  to  3  feet  of  sand,  which  lies  west  of  it  and  in  which  the 
river  has  now  cut  its  channel  50  to  GO  feet  deej). 

Eolling  surface  of  till  in  the  south  edge  of  Sec.  0,  T.  135,  li.  54,  25  to 
40  rods  iu)r(h  of  the  Sheyenne  Kiver,  1,080  to  1,0!)0  feet.  Most  of  this 
Sec.  9  is  nearly  level  till  at  1,080  to  1,085  fee.,  with  occasional  large 
hollows  20  feet  lower.  It  seems  to  have  been  smoothed  by  Lake  Agassiz 
at  the  time  of  the  .Milnor  beach.  Westward  is  slightly  undulating  till, 
having  an  elevation  of  1,085  to  1,125  feet  for  2  or  3  miles,  as  far  as  the 
surface  lies  within  view. 

Herman  beach  in  the  NW.  ]  of  the  NW.  \  of  Sec.  10,  T.  135,  11.  54, 
1,075  to  1,080  feet.  'I'his  is  a  dei>()sit  of  gravel  and  sand  extending 
along  the  verge  of  the  plateau  of  till  just  d(;s(!ribed  in  Sec.  0.  I'ifteou 
or  20  rods  to  the  east  the  elevation  is  1 ,005  feet,  and  it  sinks  slowly 
thence  eastward  to  about  1,050  feet  at  the  west  base  of  the  dunes  in 
Sees.  12  and  1  of  this  township. 

Lakelet  back  of  this  beach,  situated  in  the  east  edge  of  the  Sl'i.  ^  of 
Sec.  4,  T.  135,  K.  54,  about  5()  rods  long  from  south  to  north,  1, (»(>()  feet, 
being  25  feet  beiow  the  average  of  the  adjacent  undulating  till.  Shallow 
lakelet,  40  rods  across,  close  east  of  the  beach,  a  <piarter  of  a  mile  east 
from  the  northwest  corner  of  Sec.  3,  also  1,0(10  feet;  adjoining  land,  1,005 
to  1,070  feet,  excepting  on  the  west,  where  the  Herman  beach  has  an 
elevation  of  1,080  feet,  with  undulating  till  beyond  it  a  few  feet  higher. 

Herman  beach  at  the  middle  of  the  west  side  of  Sec.  34,  T.  130,  K.54 
(Sheldon),  1,082  feet ;  surface  25  rods  east,  1,070  feet,  thence  descemliiig 
slowly  eastward.  Hen;  and  for  li  miles  south,  through  Sec.  3,  this 
beach  is  a  flattened  ridge  of  sand  ami  tine  gravel,  25  or  30  rods  wide, 
with  a  depression  3  to  0  feet  deep  along  its  west  side.  In  the  NW.  J 
of  Sec.  28,  its  elevation  is  1,080  feet. 

Fargo  and  Southwestern  Eailroad  track  at  Sheldon,  1,078  feet. 
Wells  in  Sheldon  village  are  10  to  15  feet  deep,  in  sandy  clay  free  from 

(430) 


survev 
Map! 
its  mos 
feet  dei 
Hern 
mile  fr( 
liiver  i 
north  ( 
31,  and 
mile  w 
which  1 
rods, 
fully  ro 
it:s  wes 
surface 
1,075  t( 
In  th 
lating 
distaiM! 
of  the 
TIm^ 
in  a  noi 
its  elev 
feet,  wi 


UULL.  39. 

3t  part 
dge  of 
)f  Sec. 
s  a  de- 
Asterly 
}s  east- 
>  where 
nier  of 
^ec.  12, 
f  dunes 
50  feet, 
I  beach 
ts  west 

• 

i,  north 
md  and 
sioiially 
iich  the 

i4,  25  to 
t  of  tliis 
al  huge 
Agassi  z; 
ting  till, 
,r  as  the 

5, 11.  54, 
Ltending 
Fifteen 
s  slowly 
lunes  in 

SE.  i  of 
()(>()  feet, 
Shallow 
nile  east 
nd,  1,005 
h  has  an 
t  higher. 
:J(),  U.  54 
scending 
o.  3,  this 
:)ds  wide, 
le  NW.  i 

078  feet, 
free  from 


UPltAH.I 


HERMAN    HHACn    IN    DAKOTA. 


45 


gravel  or  bowlders  0  to  10  feet,  with  sand  below.  Tiiese  deposits  be- 
long to  the  Herman  beach,  which  is  here  spread  upon  a  widtli  of  abont 
a  half  mile. 

FROM  SIIHLDON  NORTH  TO   TTIF,  NORTHERN   PACIFIC  r.ATLROAl). 

This  l)ea(!h,  terracelike,  at  Ungh  :\Icrnt()sh's  house,  in  the  south  edge 
of  the  NW.  t  of  Se(!.  S,  T.  130,  \i.  5 1  (Sheldon),  has  its  crest  1,083  to 
1,084  feet  above  the  sea.  llis  well,  near  the  top  of  the  beach,  23  feet 
<leep,  is  soil  and  sandy  clay  to  a  depth  of  7  feet,  then  sand  15  feet  to 
water.  Till  ris{^s  to  the  surface  20  rods  farther  west:.  About  30  rods 
east,  on  land  10  feet  lowu»r,  a  well  10  feet  deep  is  all  caAing  sand  below^ 
the  bla(;k  soil,  which  is  1  or  2  i-et  deep  next  to  the  surface. 

From  the  east  base  of  the  beach  near  Mr.  INIcIntosh's  there  is  a  very 
slight  descent  eastward  to  1,005  feet,  approximately,  about  Island  Lake, 
which  lies  some  10  feet  lower.  This  lake,  nearly  round,  about  a  third 
of  a  mile  in  diameter,  is  crossed  by  the  line  between  Sees.  0  and  10. 
Its  island,  which  is  said  to  have  an  area  of  12  acres,  lying  in  Sec.  0,  is 
wooded;  but  the  shores  around  the  lake  are  destitute  of  timber,  being 
iu  part  inarshy,  with  grass  and  ru.shes,  and  in  part  hard  sand.  The 
maximum  de])th  of  water  is  only  0  feet,  bnt  it  has  not  been  dried  n^) 
during  the  six  years  from  the  first  iniinigration  here  to  the  time  of  this 
survey. 

]Mai)l(^  liiver  in  Sec.  32,  T.  137,  M.  54,  about  2  miles  northeast  from 
its  most  southern  bend,  1,017  feet.  It  is  20  to  10  feet  wide  and  1  to  3 
feet  deep,  with  cobbles  and  bowlders  in  msiny  portions  of  its  channel. 

Iferman  beach,  a  san(l  aiul  gravel  deposit  extending  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  south  to  north  on  the  vei'ge  of  the  blutf  of  till  west  of  INIaplo 
Uiver  in  the  northwest  part  of  this  Sec.  32,  1,072  to  1,077  iVct.  In  the 
north  edge  of  the  NW.  }  of  this  section,  the  northeast  <!orncr  of  Sec. 
31,  and  the  east  edge  of  Sec.  30,  it  is  a  ])lateaulike  tract  a  fourth  of  a 
mile  wide,  with  a  subsoil  of  sand  and  tine  gravel,  1,080  feet,  from 
which  both  east  and  west  a  gentle  slope  falls  5  feet  within  20  or  30 
rods.  1  n  the  iSTW.  j  of  Sec.  20  and  the  west  half  of  Sec.  1 7,  it  is  a  grace- 
fully rounded  ridge,  1,085  to  1,0S7  fe(>t,  with  descent  of  about  5  feet  on 
its  west  sidc^  and  10  to  15  feet  within  as  many  rods  on  tiie  east.  The 
surface  east  of  the  Maple  River  iu  this  T.  137,  K.  51,  has  an  elevation  of 
1,075  to  1,005  feet,  declining  toward  the  north  an«l  east. 

In  the  east  half  of  T.  137,  K.  55,  a  surface  of  till,  moderately  nndu- 
lating  near  the  beach  of  Lake  Agassi/,  but  projuinciitly  rolling  at  a 
distaiuie  of  3  miles  to  the  west,  rises  to  1 ,150  and  1 ,1 75  feet  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  IVLiple  Kiver  above  its  south  bend. 

The,  I  lerman  bea(!h,  a  broad  tlatteiuMl  ridge  of  sand  and  gravel,  passes 
in  a  north-northeast  course  through  the  center  of  Sec.  8,  T.  137,  E.  54, 
its  elevation  being  1,083  feet.  A  smootluMl  surface  of  till,  1 ,082  to  1 ,087 
feet,  with  occaKsional  sloughs  in  depressions  15  to  20  feet  deep,  occupies 

(431) 


Iv. 


40 


UPPER  BEACHES  OF  LAKE  AGASSIZ. 


[nVLI-.  3!). 


tlie  west  half  of  this  Sec.  8;  and  (ilose  east  of  the  beach  a  flat  of  till  on 
the  east  line  of  the  section,  at  1,065  to  1,070  feet,  was  the  bed  of  the 
lalce. 

Continuing;  northeastward,  the  beach  is  offset  a  mile  to  the  east  in 
Sees.  4  and  li,  T.  I'M,  li.  54,  so  that  the  {greater  part  of  Seii.  4  was  a  ba> 
of  Lake  Agassiz  during  its  IJerman  stage,  with  bottom  at  1,080  to  l,0«ir. 
feet,  inclosed  on  t'he  west,  north,  and  east  by  beach  deposits.  Tin- 
highest  portion  of  the  hook  or  spit  east  of  this  bay  is  in  the  SW.  |  of 
Sec.  .*},  1,093  to  1,09(>  feet.  It  is  composed  of  sand  and  fine  gravel,  with 
jtebbles,  mostly  less  than  an  inch  but  occasionally  2  inches  in  diam 
eter,  forming  a  smoothly  rounded  swell  30  to  40  rods  wide.  This  cape. 
]>r()jecting  south  and  west  a  mile  into  the  lake,  was  accumulated  by  the 
southward  drift  of  the  beach  nmterial  along  the  shore,  caused  by  north 
eru  winds,  as  is  also  observable  at  various  other  places  on  both  the 
east  and  west  shores  of  this  extinct  lake  and  on  both  sides  of  Lake 
JMichigan  at  the  present  time. 

Herman  beach  in  the  west  edge  of  Sec.  20,  T.  138,  11.  54,  1,004  fin^t. 
On  the  east  side  of  the  beach  here,  near  the  center  of  this  section,  is  n 
slough  filled  with  rushes  and  containing  water  all  the  year;  its  eh'va 
tion  is  about  1,0(55  feet,  that  of  the  land  on  its  east  sid«^  in  the  east  part 
of  this  section  being  about  1,075  feet.  In  the  NE.  |  of  the  XE.  |  of  Se<'. 
34,  the  beach  is  intersected  by  a  sluggish  creek,  ai)i)arently  foiiued  bv 
springs  within  a  half  mile  northwest,  its  ravine  being  fully  40  feet  below 
the  general  level  of  the  beach  and  the  land  westwanl.  Again,  in  tlic 
NW.  J  of  the  SW.  i  of  Sec.  20,  the  beach  is  cut  by  a  dry  channel,  thr 
outlet  in  rainy  weather  from  a  small  slough. 

Through  the  west  hilf  of  Sec.  23,  T.  138,  K.  54,  the  bea(;h  is  a  low, 
smoothly  rounded  ridge  of  sand  and  fine  gravel,  about  half  of  whi(!h  is 
limestone  and  the  rest  granite  or  other  Archean  ro(!ks.  As  in  tlie  ."> 
miles  next  southward,  it  is  largely  composed  of  fine  gravel,  and  pebbles 
abound,  often  covering  half  the  surface  of  the  knolls  made  by  gophers. 
jMost  of  the  pebbles  are  less  than  an  inch  in  dianuiter,  but  some  meas 
nre  2  and  a  few  3  inches.  The  elevation  of  this  beach  ridge  is  !,«I9lJ  jo 
1,100  foet',  on  the  north  line  of  this  section  its  height  is  1,09!)  feet. 
A  broad  ilejjressiou  3  to  5  feet  below  the  beach  borders  its  \v»>st  side. 
Toward  the  east  there  is  a  descent  of  Jibout  10  feet  in  25  ()r3th()ds,  r.ml 
thence  a  gradual  slope  sinks  to  1,000  or  1,050  feet  within  1  to  H  miles. 

Undulating  till  in  Sec.>*.  22  aiid  15,  T.  138,  II.  54,  1,0!)5  to  l,n"o  feet  ; 
crests  of  prominently  rolling  till  in  the  west  edge  of  Se(\  1 1  and  thr 
south  i)artof  Sec.  10,  1,115  to  1,125  feet ;  thence  northwestward  h)wer 
un<lulaiing  till  has  an  elevation  of  only  1,000  to  1,100  feet  for  nearly 
two  miles  and  rises  quite  slowly  beyond. 

This  somewhat  irregular  contour  has  cau.sed  considerable  diversity 
in  the  development  of  the  beach,  so  that  its  deposits  are  massed  in  uii 
usual  amount  in  some  places,  while  elsewhere  they  are  deficient  or 
wholly  wanting.    In  the  SW.  ^  of  the  SW,  ^  of  Sec.  14,  T.  138,  R.  54, 

(432) 


I 


I 


very 
cours 

1,087 

easte 

A  I) 

Se(^  ^ 

5  i\H> 

54,  a 

and 

on  t 

man 

exce 

of  S(j 

indiji 

beac 

ferioi 

sligli 

to  U 

seen 

1,175 

Seel 

ward 

main 


|IUTU,.  39. 


bPHAM.) 


IIHHMAM    M'.M'M    1\    DAKOTA. 


47 


)f  till  oil 
I  of  the 

5  east  in 
as  a  bay 

)toi,o<;r. 

ts.  Th.' 
SW.  \  of 
vel,  witli 
ill  (liain 
'his  cape. 
c<l  by  tlic 
by  nortli 
both  tho 
,  of  Lake 

L,004  fret. 
I'tioii,  is  !i 
its  eh'va 
;  oast  ])ai't 
].  \  of  Sec. 
oriued  bv 
fi'i't  below 
in,  ill  the 
uiiiol,  the 

is  a  low. 
f  whieh  is 
s  ill  the  ."> 
1(1  pebbles 
V  ji-ophers. 
onie,  mens 

is  1.0'.)L»  lo 
1, (>•>•>  feet. 

west  side. 
()r()<ls,  r.ml 

►  l.l  miles. 
1,110  feet  ; 

1  and  the 
vard  lower 

for  nearly 

0  diversity 
ssed  in  nii 
leticient  or 
138,  R.  54, 


a  swell  of  ftTa%'C'l,  with  pebbles  of  all  sizes  up  to  2  inches  or  rarely  .'5 
inches  in  diameter,  rises  to  ^  '0.1  feet,  extend  in  ff  about  40  rods  from 
south  to  north;  and  similar  {gravel,  at  1,0!).">  to  1,10.5  feet,  occurs  in  the 
west  part  of  the  NW.  ^  of  Sec.  U.'?,  west  of  tlu^  distinct  beach  rid^^o.  The 
northwest  part  of  Sec.  14  is  a  nearly  Hat  tract,  havinjj^a  subsoil  of  sand 
and  '"ne  jiiavel,  witli  an  elevation  of  ],0!)0  to  1,095  feet,  lieach  ridjje 
extendinjjf  south  from  the  east  side  of  a  prominent  swell  of  till  in  the 
SW.  \  of  Sec.  11,  1,0S(I  to  1,08!)  feet,  havin<j-  a  continuous  depression  of 
about  5  feet  on  its  west  side  and  bordered  eastward  by  land  C  to  10 
feet  below  its  crest.  In  the  nortiiwest  i)art  of  this  Sec.  11  and  the  south- 
east part  of  Sec.  .'i  the  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz  is  marked  by  slij?ht  erosion 
in  the  rolliiijj  and  nndnlatins  surface  of  till  rather  than  by  the  usual 
beach  dei)osits  olj;ravel  and  saml. 

Beyond  this,  a  conspicuous  beach  rid};e  25  to  40  rods  wide,  elevated  10 
feet  above  the  undulatin';'  till  on  its  west  side  and  bordered  by  a  still 
lower  surface  on  the  east,  extends  from  the  middle  of  the  SW.  ^  of  the  SE. 
^  of  Sec.  .'>,  T.  Lis,  11. 54,  northwestward  to  near  the  middle  of  the  north 
line  of  the  N\V.  \  of  this  section,  where  it  is  interrupted  by  a  draiu- 
a{j;e  jjap  about  20  feet  below  its  crest.  Thence  this  massive  beach  ridj.fo 
continues  in  a  north-northeast  course  tliroufj;h  Sec.  .'54,  T.  1.30,  11.  54,  to 
near  the  mi<ldle  of  its  north  line.  Its  material  is  sand  and  gravel,  with 
pebbles  ui>  to  1.^  inches  in  diameter.  In  Sec.  3  its  elevation  is  1,095  to 
1,090  feet,  and  in  Sec.  34,  1,089  to  1,094  feet.  It  passes  onward  as  a 
very  distiiuit  and  typical  beach  ridge,  with  the  same  north-northeast 
course,  through  Sees.  27  and  22,  T.  139,  11.  54,  having  rai  elevation  of 
1,087  to  1,095  feet  in  Sec.  27  and  1,089  to  1,09()  feet  in  Sec.  22.  Its 
eastern  slope  in  these  st^ctions  descends  15  to  20  feet. 

About  a  half  mile  west  from  this  great  beach  ridge  the  east  edge  of 
Sec.  4  has  irregular  deposits  of  beach  gravel  and  sand  in  swells  and  bars 
5  feet  aliove  the  general  level,  and  in  the  east  edge  of  Sec.  33,  T.  139,  II. 
54,  a  well  detined  paralhil  Ixiach  begins,  having  a  width  of  20  to  25  rods 
and  elevation  of  1,092  to  l,0t)4  feet,  with  a  depression  2  to  4  feet  lower 
on  the  west  and  descent  of  ab(mt  5  feet  on  the  east.  This  western  Her- 
man beach  extends  as  a  continuous  ridge  2  miles  to  the  north-northeast, 
excepting  a  gap  where  it  is  intersected  by  a  small  stream  in  the  NW.  ^ 
of  Sec.  27.  Its  material  is  sand  and  gravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  2  inches 
in  diameter,  about  half  of  wliich  are  limestone.  Both  this  and  the  ea.st 
beach  have  a  black  soil  a  foot  or  more  in  depth,  and  are  scarccily  in- 
ferior to  the  adjoining  areas  of  till  in  ])roductiveness.  Farther  west  a 
slightly  undulating  or  nearly  flat  surface  of  till  extends  from  a  half  mile 
to  U  miles  b«»fore  it  ri.ses  above  1,095  feet;  and  the  highest  of  its  swells, 
seen  3  to  0  miles  away  to  the  west  and  northwest,  do  not  excee<l  1,150  or 
1,175  feet.  Western  Herman  beach  on  the  north  lino  of  the  NW.  ^  of 
Sec.  27,  1,095  feet;  about  0  rods  to  the  south,  1,097  feet,  and  northeast- 
ward, in  Sec.  22, 1,092  to  1,095  feet,  to  its  juuctiou  with  the  eastern  or 
main  beach  in  the  east  part  of  this  section. 

(433) 


48 


i:i'Pi:ii    UKACIIKH    OF    I.AKK    AGASSIZ. 


(lie  I.I,,  no. 


ll'IIAM. 


A  lowor  Ilorniim  licaoli,  lortnod  after  the  lako  h-vd  hero  lifid  lallen 
sli'ilitiy,  appears  in  tlie  iiortliwcst  e<l.i>e(>l:'  Seo.  L'O,  T.  l.7.>,  K.  al,  liavinj-- 
its  cic-t  at  1,071*  to  IjO:.")  leet ;  piissiii-'  iiorth-iiortlieast. 
v,'si  !«alf  ofSee.  L'.'J,  i--^f'l«"^'ii''""  is  1,07.")  to  1,080  feet;  through  See  11, 
1 ,0S0  to  1,087  feet,  beiiiy  liij-hest  near  tlie  center  of  this  section  ;  un<l  in 
the  east  part  of  Sees.  11  and  2  and  nortliward  to  tlie  SW.  \  of  Sec.  30, 
T.  1  10,  R.  r>l,  1,083  to  1,080  and  1,07.')  feet.  Its  niaxinimn  develojjnient 
is  in  See.  11,  where  it  is  a  massive,  siiiootldy  nuinded  rid^i'e  of  sand  and 
line  t^ravel,  .'50  lods  wide,  witli  a  de.seent  of  l~)  feet  on  caeli  side.  In 
Sees.  1M»  and  L*.'{  it  is  Iiordered  on  the  we.st  by  a  continnons  depression 
1  to  8  fe.'t  below  if ;  and,  throu-ili  Sees.  14,  1 1,  and  2  and  in  the  SW.  I 
of  See.  .'50,  a  slonjih  o^,  miles  lonj,',  mowa  tor  its  Inxnriant  marsh  hay, 
liavinj,'  an  elevation  of  1,007  to  1,072  feet,  lies  between  this  and  the  main 
beaeh,  a  half  mile  farther  west. 

Floor  of  S.  r.  Gardner's  house,  in  >lie  nortawest  corner  of  Sec.  27, 
T.  1.'50, 11.  .~)i,  1,0!M;  l('("t. 

Main  Herman  beaeh  thrt>!i,4ii  tlie  west  ed,-e  ot  Sec.  11,  T.  l.'iO,  II.  ol. 
1,00(5  to  1,0!K]  feet,  deeliihii;;-  northward;  in  the  west  j)art  of  Sec.  11, 
1,093  to  1,00.".  feet;  in  Sec.  2,  1,002  to  1,01>.'>  feet, ehan,i;in.i;  from  a  north 
to  a  north-northeast  coarse;  in  the  southeast  edije  of  Sec;.  .'!">  and  the 
northwest  edne  of  Se.^  IW,  T,  110,  II.  r>\,  1.0!)2to  1,0!MJ  feet;  and  in  the 
west  ])art  of  See.  2."),  w'i(M'e  it.  is  cut  by  the  Xorthern  Pacitic  Railroad, 
1,003  to  1,000  feet.     At  the  railroad  cut  its  cre.st  is  1,007  to  1,090  feet 
a7ul  the  track  is  1 ,001  feet.     Alouf^  this  distance  of  5  miles  it  is  a  typical 
beach  ridije  of  sand  and  j;ravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  2  incihes  and  occa- 
sionally 3  to  G  inches  in  :liaineter,  about  30  rods  wide,  risinjf  ni^arly 
2.")  feet  above  the  slou.u'h  on  the  east,  and  bordered  on  the  west  by  a 
continuous  i^■M»ression,  mostly  about  an  eiinhth  of  a  mih';  wide,  o  to  7 
feet  below  its  cr-.  st.     Sliiihtly  undulatiujj  till  rises  beyond  to  1,1 2o  and 
1,140  feet  within  1  or  U  miles  west,  whurh  is  as  far  as  the  surfaxio  lies 
within  view. 

Northern  Raeilic  Railroad,  trade  at  .Wheatland,  001  feet;  on  brid;je 
over  creek  in  the  east  ecb^e  of  Sec.  2."),  T.  1  10,  R.  Til,  4  miles  west  of 
Wheatland  and  three-tiftlis  of  a  mile  east  of  the  Herman  beach,  1,074 
feet;  bed  of  the  creek,  l,Oo.j  feet;  track  at  summit,  4.^  mih.'s  west  from 
the  Herman  beach,  same  as  the;  natural  surface,  1,200  feet ;  and  at  Buf- 
falo, a  half  mile  farther  west,  1.200  feet. 


it 


FROM  THE    NORTHERN    I'AOIFK;     TMILltoAl)     NORTH    TO    (JAI.ESBURG. 


Herman  l)ea('h,  a  broad,  smoothly  rounded,  (M)ntinuous  ridj^e  of  the 
same  material  and  contour  as  southward,  for  the  ne.\t  4  miles  north 
from  the  Xortheru  Pacific  Railroad,  beariui,^  north-northeast,  1,097  to 
1,100  feet,  very  constant  in  elevation.  The  (h  scent  of  its  east  slope  is  15 
or  20  feet  in  about  20  rods,  and  ol"  its  west  sloi)e,  about  5  feet.  Thence 
westward  the  surface  is  undnlatiu;;-  till,  in  swells  10  to  15  feet  above  the 

(434) 


riMIAM.I 


HERMAN    KKACII    IX    DAKOTA- 


49 


luidjiv 


fti^  *>'. 


^/^/ 


i  ^^ . 


(U'luussions,  rising'  firiuUiiilly  to  l,ir,o  aiid  I.LMH)  Icct  above  the  w:i  ut  u 
ilistuiicc  of  '6  to  5  inil(>s,  the  fiiitli(.-«t seen  in  that  Jiiection.  In  a  broad 
\  iew  this  uiea  seems  an  ahnost  Hat  [>]ain. 

Where  tiiis  beach  is  cut  by  the  Haint  Paul,  iMiiineapolis  and  iManitoba 
Railway  from  liipon  to  Hope,  near  tlie  miiMleolthe  lint;  between  Sees.  ;;^ 
and  a;j,  T.  14!,  \l.  o.J,  its  crest  was  1,()!)0  to  l,()!>!f  feet  above  the  sea.     !t 
has  been  excavated  liere  for  balhist  to  a  distance  of  about  ;j()  rods  south 
from  the  rai.way.     Jt  is  mostly  {,a'avel;   the  pebbles  seldom  e.\ce«'d  li/^'X// 
inches  in  diamet(^r;  about  half  is  limestone  and  the  remainder  ^Manitic.     /         ' 
The  thickness  of  this  beach  deposit  is  oidy  8  to  10  feet;  its  cast  sloi)o  /A 
falls  VI  or  15  feet,  and  its  west  slope,  5  to  7  feet.  / 

On  the  tloor  of  this  excavation,  about  10  lods  soutii  from  the  niilway, 
in  the  upper  foot  of  the  till  or  bowhler  clay,  umler  the  },navel,  numerous 
bones  of  a  mammoth  were  found  in  the  year  1881.  These,  included  a 
tusk  11  feet  lon^'  and  U  inches  in  diameter  (tapering-  to  0  inches  at  the 
smaller  eml,  where  it  was  broken  olf ),  three  teeth,  two  vertebrae,  and 
several  other  bones.  They  were  embed<led  in  the  top  of  the  till,  and 
the  overlying  beach  formation  has  yielded  no  bones,  shells,  or  othcsr 
fossils. 

Southward  from  this  locality  the  Herman  beach  is  double  for  a  dis- 
tance of  about  1  miles.  The  secondary  beach  ridj-e,  east  of  tli.it  already 
des"vibed  is  similar  in  size  and  material.  Its  south  end  is  in  the  west 
pi-  '■  SSec.  11),  T.  110,  11.  53,  a  half  mile  east  from  the  main  bea(!h,  and 
it  „s  thence  north-northeastward  tlirougli  ;Sccs.  18,  7,  and  the  east 

edge  of  We  ;.  (>,  having  an  elevation  of  1,081  to  1,081  fcHit.  It  becomes 
merged  w  ith  the  main  beach  in  the  SK.  j  of  Sec.  ;J2,  T.  Ill,  li.  .>}.  Be- 
tween these  beach  ridges  is  a  depression,  approximately  1,075  feet, 
partly  occupied  by  a  grassy  slough,  wlii(;h  is  all  usimI  as  mowing  lani^, 
having  no  area  of  water  or  bog. 

Herman  beach,  in  the  SW.  [  of  Sec.  28,  T.  Ml,  U.  53,  1,091  to  1,000 
feet,  not  so  distiiu;t  as  usual,  being  intersected  by  Swan  Creek  and 
having  no  well  marked  <lej>ression  along  its  west  side.  Farther  north 
in  this  section  it  is  a  ritlge>  of  tin;  ordinary  type,  with  its  crest  at  1,000 
to  1,008  feet.  In  Sec.  21  it  is  narrowed  to  8  or  10  rods  in  width,  but 
continues  as  a  very  distinct  ritlge  witli  a  siigiit  ascent  nortiiward,  from 
1,007  to  ',101  feet.  Its  east  sloi)e  falls  15  to  20  feet  in  about  20  rods 
and  there  is  a  depression  of  3  to  (J  I'ect  on  the  west.  Thence  .'i  surface 
of  undulating  till,  seeming  nearly  Hat  in  a  general  view,  rises  gradually 
westward  to  about  1,150  feet  at  a  distance  of  2  or  3  miles. 

This  beach  ridge  passes  (Uiward  tlirougli  Sec,  10  and  the  south  i>art 
of  Sec.  0,  T.  Ill,  K.  53,  with  an  elevation  of  1,005  to  1,100  feet;  but, 
having  been  followed  thus  continuously  in  a  north  northeast  course  for 
more  than  15  miles,  it  ceases  in  the  east  i>art  of  this  Sec.  0.  Its  north 
end  abuts  at  1,100  to  1.105  feet  u[)on  a  terrace  slope  of  till,  which  rises 
about  10  feet  liigher.  This  forms  the  east  boundary  of  a  slightly  undu- 
lating expanse  of  till,  which  Ihence  gradually  lises  to  1,150  and  1,200 
,feet  i,u  2  to  5  miles  west  and  nnrthwest.  From  Sec.  0  northward  tlirough 
Bull.  30 1  (1  '..".) 


50 


UPPEli    IlhACUES    l)V    l.AKE    AGASSIZ. 


[HULL.  30. 


the  east  part  of  Sec.  I  ;iiul  in  the  wet-i  ed^JTo  of  Sec.  Si  iiiid  the  west 
part  of  Wees.  27  22,  and  15/1'.  U'J,  K.  i'.'i,  [►assinj;- close  east  of  Erie,  the 
jrerniaii  .shore  of  Lake  Agassiz  is  :narked  by  such  n  terrace  or  rscarp- 
ineut  formed  by  wave  erosion,  and  the  usual  deposit  of  beach  {jnivel 
and  sand  is  absent.  The  base  of  the  ^  scarpnient  is  at  l,(»l>r>  feet,  ai)- 
proxiuuitely,  and  it  rises  with  a  moderate  sh»pe  2.">  to  10  feet. 

About  a  half  mile  east  of  this  eseari»ineut,  howevi-r,  lies  a  broad  low 
rid<,'c  ef  beach  sand  and  line  gravel,  havin.i^'  an  elevation  of  l,()sr>  to  l,()!M) 
feet.  Its  course  is  from  the  west  part  of  See.  10  north  northeast  through 
Sees.  3  and  oi  and  nearly  due  north  through  the  east  edge  of  Sees.  137, 
L'2,  andl5.  The  descent  eastward  is  more  gentle  than  usual,  falling 
only  G  to  10  ieet  in  a  (juarter  of  a  mile,  beyond  which  is  a  Hat  area  of 
till  On  the  west  a  depression  3  to  5  feet  deep,  partly  occupied  by  a 
gi-assy  tilougli,  intervenes  between  this  beach  ridge  and  the  wave-cut 
escarpment.  On  the  north  line  of  Sec.  15  the  crest  <;!'  the  ridge  is  at 
l,OULM'e(t;  the  depression  west,  1,088;  the  base  of  the  escarpment,  1,002, 
and  its  top,  about  1,1 15  feet. 

Saint  Paul,  i\Iinneaj)olis  and  Manitoba  Uailway  from  lii[)on  to  I'ort- 
laud,  track  at  tank  and  section-house  close  seutii  of  Ivush  liiver,  l,0!)(J 
feet;  at  i"]rie,  2  miles  farther  norHi,  l,rj8feet;  summit,  about  I  mile 
north  of  Erie,  1,1313  fi  et;  South  JJranch  of  the  North  Fork  of  VAm  River, 
bridge,  1,083  feet ;  bed  oi  creek,  1,0{J4  feet;  track  at  summit  1  mile 
north,  1,001  feet;  at  Oalesburg,  1,0S1  iV-ct;  North  Branch  of  ilie  North 
Forkof  El:'i  Eiver,  bridge,  1.078  feet;  bed  of  creek,  l,(»(;r»  foct ;  (rack  at 
Clilford,  1,057  feet.  At  TJrie  and  westward  tlu'.  surface  is  pionniuMitly 
lolling  till,  which  rises  within  3  miles  toaheighi,  100  feet  above  the 
Hhore  of  Lake  AgasiMZ. 

In  Sc'js.  10  ap.'.i  3,  T.  142,  K.  53,  the  ITeiinan  beach  is  again  well  ex- 
hibited in  its  usual  character.  On  the  north  line  ol' Sec.  U)  it  is  a  gently 
rounded  ridge  of  .sand  ami  giuvel,  with  j)ebbl('.s  up  to  2  inches  and 
rarely  3  or  -i  iiu'hesin  diinu'ter,  half  being  limestone;  its  width  is  about 
20  rods;  the  -jlesation  of  its  crest  is  l,lOt}  feet  and  the  slopes  fall  10 
feet  on  the  east  and  3  feet  on  tiie  wi'st.  For  the  next  mile  n:»rthward, 
through  the  west  part  of  Sec.  3,  lliis  beach  I'idge  has  a  width  of  10  to  15 
rods;  its  elevation  is  mostly  1,1(»5  to  1,108  feet,  with  a  depression  5  to 
7  feet  deep  along  its  west  side;  but  in  a  few  places  the  ridge  it.self  is 
depressed  to  1,011!)  ieet.  Passing  noi  tiiward  this  l)each  in  the  west  half 
of  Sec.  31,  T.  11:3,  11.53,  is  ii  very  smooth,  „M'aeefully  rounded,  wavelike 
swell,  30  to  40  rods  wide,  1,10S  to  1,1 12  feet  in  elevation,  rising  lf>  feet 
above  its  east  base  and  having  a  depression  of  3  to  5  fiset  o!»  the  west. 
A  well  in  the  NE.  |-  of  theSW.  j  of  See.  34,  on  the  top  of  tlii.s  beach, 
went  through  12  feet  of  sand  and  grjvel,  going  into  till  below.  In  the 
SW.'I:  of  Se(!. 27,  the  btMcii  continues  with  the  same  nui.ssive  develop- 
ment and  in-arly  north  rourse,  its  elevation  luiing  1,111  to  1,115  feet. 
In  theNNV.  \  of  this  .•icction  it  becomes  a  still  broader  deposit  of  gravel 
and  sand,  a  fourth  to  a  third  of  a  mile  wide,  with  no  depression  on  its 

(430) 


Jn 
its  hi] 
a  .sl<)]| 
of  2oI 
sand 
as  is 
west 
it  i.s  il 
and  j 


IIILII,!..  39. 

lie  west 
Irie,  the 
<  soiirp- 
L  jjtriivel 
feet,  jq)- 

•oad  low 
to  1,0*.)<) 
thnuijili 
Bees.  27, 
,  fall  in  j; 
t  aieJi  el" 
ied  by  ii 
Wiive-eut 
l<re  is  lit 
nt,  1,092, 

I  to  l*oit- 
ver,  1,0!)() 
at  I  mile 
ilni  River, 
lit  1  mile 
the  North 
;  t  raek  at 
(iniineMtly 
above  the 

ill  well  ex- 
is  a  <;eMtly 
iielies  and 
til  is  about 
pes  fall  10 
uyrthwanl, 
1  of  10  to  15 
ression  5  to 
l<j;e  itself  is 
le  west  halt 
(I,  wavelilvi' 
si  11, I?  V.i  ft^t^'t 
);.  the  west, 
this  i teach, 
ow.     In  the 
ive  develop- 
I)  1,115  feet. 
)sit  of  {j;ruvel 
jssioii  on  its 


LTIIAM.I 


HKKMAN    r.KA(JII    I\    DAKOTA. 


51 


west  side.  Here  its  eourso  is  turned  northwestward,  entering  the  SE.  ] 
of  Sec.  21  with  an  elevation  of  1,100  feet;  but  it  seems  not  to  be  dis- 
tinctly traceable  farther.  About  a  half  mile  west  of  this  beach  a 
plateau  of  till,  1,125  to  1,12S  feet  above  the  sea,  extends  a  third  of  a  unit'. 
from  southeast  to  northwest  in  t  lie  ^E.  |  of  Sec.  2.S  j  but  lor  a  mile  soutii 
and  west  of  this  plateau  and  for  ;}  ir.iie.s  uortliwest  the  surface  of 
slightly  undulating  till  averages  only  1,105  to  1,120  feet. 

The  secondary  irerman  beach,  already  des(!ribed  in  its  cour.se  east  of 
the  Krie  escarpment  of  till,  continues  northward  with  an  deviation  of 
1,005  leet,  approximately,  throu.yh  the  east  half  of  Sees,  lOiuid  3,  T.  1 12, 
It.  5:5,  and  Sees.  31  and  27,  T.  113,  U.  5;5.  In  Sees.  22  and  i  i  this  beach 
turns  in  a  gradual  curve  to  the  northwest  and  west  and  it^  crest  varies 
in  lieiglit  from  l,0i>5  to  1,101  feet,  being  highest  in  or  near  the  south- 
east corner  of  Sec.  10.  There  it  is  a  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand  about  30 
rods  wide,  rising  10  t',  15  feet  above  its  north(;astern  base  and  descend- 
ing 0  to  10  feet  on  the  southwest  to  a  nearly  Hat  tract  of  moist  mowing 
land  fully  a  mile  wide,  with  a  height  of  1,01)0  to  1,005  feet.  Through 
Sees.  17,  8,  and  5  it  again  curves  to  the  northwest,  north,  and  north- 
northeast,  having  an  elevation  of  about  1,100  feet.  In  tlie  north  half 
of  Sees.  5  and  1,  T.  1 13,  It.  53,  a  smooth  plain  with  sand  suDsoil  extends 
a  mile  eastward  from  the  east  base  of  this  beach  ridge,  descending  in 
this  distance  friMii  1,000  to  1,075  feet. 

Continuation  of  this  beach  northward  nearly  through  the  middle  of 
Sec.  32,  T.  1 11,  It.  53,  1,090  to  1,000  feet.  It  is  a  typical  beach  ridge.' 
line  gravel  and  sand  8  to  10  feet  above  the  land  on  its  east  side  and 
having  a  descent  of  about  5  feet  westward,  beyond  which  the  surface 
of  uiululating  till  rises  in  1  or  U  iriles  to  1,125  and  in  the  next  2  miles 
to  1,175  or  1,200  feet.  A  half  mile  east  from  this  beach  and  only  20  to 
;>i)  rods  vest  of  the  railroa<l,  thero  is  a  [)avallel  beach  ridge  of  similar  size 
and  material,  1,000  *o  1,0!>2  leet.  The  former  of  these  beaches,  where 
it  crosses  the  south  line  of  Se<'.  2(),  a  fourth  to  a  half  mile  west  of  Gales- 
burg,  is  spreail  in  a.  broad,  nearly  Hat  deposit  wliiiih  rises  westward 
from  1,090  to  1,101  feet.  On  the  west  it  is  bordered  by  a  dei»ression 
about  8  feet  lower. 

FUOH   (iALESIJUUG  NORTH   To   J.AUIMOKE. 

ill  Sec.  20,  T.  Ill,  It.  53,  the  beach  is  about  a  third  of  a  mile  wide, 
its  higher  western  margin  being  at  1,007  to  1,102  feet.  Fiom  its  crest 
a  slope  descends  tlrst  somewhat  steeply  and  then  slowly  to  the  amount 
of  20  or  25  feet  in  two-thirds  of  a  mile  ea.stward,  having  a  subsoil  of 
sand  and  very  line  gravel  to  a  depth  of  5  to  10  feet,  underlaid  by  till, 
as  is  shown  by  wells  at  Galesburg.  Crest  of  this  beaidi  through  the 
west  half  of  Sec.  17,  1,102  to  1,107  feot ;  in  Sec.  (J,  T.  1 11,  K.  53,  where 
it  is  intersected  by  the  North  I5ram!h  of  rhe  North  Fork  of  Elm  River, 
and  In  Sees.  3:»  and  29,  T.  115,  It.  53,  1,115  to  1,125  feet,  being  10  to  15 

(137) 


52 


UPPER    BEACHES    OF   LAKE    AGASSIZ. 


[BULL.  30. 


feet  liif,'lior  tliaii  on  the  .south  iind  north ;  in  Sees.  20  ami  17,  about  1,110 
feet;  in  the  southwest  part  of  «ee.  «,  1,117  feet;  Avestward  through 
Sec.  7  of  this  township  and  through  the  northeast  part  of  Sec.  12,  T. 
145,  it.  51,  1,112  to  1,117  feet,  hi  the  west  part  of  See.  7  a  slough 
about  an  eighth  of  a  mile  wide,  liaving  an  elevation  of  1,100  feet,  ap- 
proximately, borders  the  southwest  side  of  this  beach  ridge.  On  the 
line  between  Traill  and  Steele  Counties,  where  the  top  of  the  ridge  is  at 
1,111  feet,  it  is  a  t.vi)ical  beach  deposit  about  25  rods  wide,  composed 
of  sand  and  gravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  2  or  3  inches  in  diameter.  Its 
course  is  due  west,  and  the  descent  from  crest  to  base  on  the  south  is 
Oor  8  leet  and  northward  12  or  15  feet,  beyond  which  a  very  gentle 
slope  sinks  toward  the  northeast.  A  well  on  this  beach,  in  the  east 
edge  of  the  ]S'\V.  ,[  of  See.  12,  T.  145, 11.  54,  went  through  sand  and  line 
gravel  13  feet,  linding  till  below.  AVithin  a  few  huiulred  feet  farther 
west  the  beach  is  interrupted  for  a  distance  of  about  1  mile  by  an  area 
of  till  some  15  feet  lowei',  with  no  beach  dei)osits.  It  reappears,  how- 
ever, as  a  typical  beach  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand  for  a  distance  of  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  in  the  NW.  \  of  Sec.  11  and  the  NE.  ^  of  Sec.  10, 
having  an  elevation  of  1,114  to  1,112  feet,  with  a  slough  on  its  south 
side  0  to  8  feet  lower. 

Returning  to  the  vicinity  of  (r;ilesburg,  a  slightly  higher  beach,  ap- 
pro.ximateiy  piirallel  with  the  foi'egoing,  remains  to  be  ti'aced.  It  becomes 
recognizable  in  the  west  rA'^e  e!'  Sec.  20,  T.  144,  U.  53,  where  the  border 
of  theareaof  I'oliing  till  that  exlemls  thenc(!  westward  bears  occasional 
deposits  of  gravel  at  1,115  to  !.12()  feet.  In  t  lie  east  part  of  Sec.  18  it  is 
a  well  deveIoi>e(l beaeli  lidge  of  sand  and  lini'  grave!  30  to  50  rods  wide, 
with  a  de])ression  on  the  west  1  to  (J  feet  below  its  toi),  which  has  an  ele- 
vation of  1,120  to  l,rj.)reet.  The  next  half  mileor  more  westwardin  Sec. 
18  is  very  smooth  till,  1,120  to  1,!2">  lee( ;  but  within  «»ne  mile  farther wc.->l 
prominent  swells  of  till  riseto  l,l()((aiid  1,175  feet.  Northwai'din  Sec.  7 
this  beach,  eont inning  al  1,120  to  1,12.'!  feet,  is  (jiiite  broad,  without  adis 
tinc/tly  ridged  form,  and  is  iiMlcntetl  from  tiie  east  by  a  large  sl<)ngli 
whose  elevation  is  approvimatcly  I.IDO  feet,  including  several  a<;res  of 
water  free  IVoin  giass  and  rnslu's.  Crest  of  l)ea(;h  in  the  S\V.  J-  of  See. 
(I,  1.122  t(»  l,12(;fc'et.  North  iJranch  of  the  North  Fork  of  Kim  Kiver  1,105 
feet,  dry  in  summer,  in  a  \  alley  15  to  10  rods  wide.  lieach  through  Sees. 
31  and  30.  T.  1 15,  1{.53,  l,125to  1,120  feet;  auii  in  the  west  half  of  Sec.  10, 
1,127  to  1,121  feet,  sinldng  sligiiiiy  fr;*!::  soutii  to  north.  The  farther 
course  of  this  shore  is  not  inaiked  by  eont ininms  i>ea(!h  deposits  ;  but, 
following  the  eontonr  line  of  1,125  feet,  it  must  turn  west  in  the  SW.  ■}  ol 
Sec.  18,  T.  145, 11.  53,  and  <'xtend  tli rough  Sees.  13  to  10,  T.  145,  K.  54,  to 
the  South  Bramih  of  (loose  KiNcr. 

Highest  ground  crossed  by  road  on  the  line  between  Traill  and  Steele 
(/ounties  at  the  westsidt^  of  See.  18,  T.  145.  U.  53,  1,125  feet. 

Natural  surface  at  the  .southwest  corner  of  See.  3,  T.  145,  11.  54,  a 
dozen  rods  west  of  the  South  l>ran(!li  of  Uoose  Kiver,  1,104  feet.    Tlii 


J  ^y 


curves  v 
being  al 
Through 
SI-:,  f,  w 
posits  ar 
iiias.sed  ii 
Hliore  an 


(438) 


LL.  39. 

1,110 

OUgU 

2  T 

ougU 
t,  up- 
11  tbc 
13  is  at 
posed 
.    Its 
tttb  is 
gentle 
ic  east 
lid  iiue 
tarthev 
lu  area 
s,  bow- 
ftbree- 
^cc.  10, 
8  boulb 


ITPHAM.l 


HERMAN    BEAOTT    IN    DAKOTA. 


53 


stream,  about  1,070  feet,  is  S  to  20  foot  wide  and  mostly  1  to  2  feet  deep. 
Its  bottom  land,  5  to  10  foot  above  this  staffo  of  low  water,  varies  from 
20  to  100  rods  in  width  and  is  inclosed  by  bkiiis  rising-  30  to  50  feet, 
increasing  in  height  sonth westward.  The  valley  has  no  timber,  the 
largest  wood  growth  being  willows  5  to  8  fiiefc  hijrh  and  2i-  inches  or 
less  in  diameter.  With  the  aid  of  these,  however,  beavers  construct 
dams  and  were  living  on  this  stream  when  this  survey  was  made  in 
18S.^>,  one  of  their  dams  then  occupied  being  found  by  my  assistant  in 
the  west  edge  of  Sec.  10,  T.  145,  14.  ,^)4. 

Floor  of  Henry  Bentley's  barn  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  SR.  ,)• 
of  Sec.  6,  T.  145,  R.  54,  on  the  Herman  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz,  1,123 
feet.  This  is  a  moderate  slope,  ascending  10  or  15  feet,  eroded  in  till, 
which  from  its  top  stretches  westward  about  2  miles  in  a  nearly  level 
expanse.  From  the  south  side  of  Sec.  C,  sucli  a  low  escarpment,  with 
its  toj)  at  1,120  to  1,123  feet,  extends  due  north,  or  a  few  degrees  west  of 
nortli,  about  5  miles. 

I'].  W.  Palmer's  liouse,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  SW.  |  of  Sec. 
2,  T.  145,  R.  55,  1,145  feet.  Well  here,  27  feet  deep:  soil  and  hard 
cemented  gravel  and  sjxnd,  2  feet;  sand  with  occasional  layers  of  tine 
gravel,  22  feet;  and  darker  clayey  quitiksand,  3  feet,  with  water. 

This  m  on  the  west  part,  nearly  at  the  crost,  of  an  unusually  high 
beach  of  this  glacial  lake,  similar  in  elevation  with  tiie  Milnor  beach, 
farther  south.  Including  its  slopes,  it  has  a  width  of  (50  rods,  the  nearly 
Hat  crest  being  40  rods  across  and  in  elevation  1 ,112  to  1,147  feet.  The 
depression  on  the  west  falls  about  5  feet.  ■  In  the  north  part  of  So(!.  2 
the  beach  deposits  have  an  irregular  contour,  not  lying  as  u^ial  in  a 
continuous  ridge  ;  their  highest  portions  vary  from  1,145  to  1,152  foot. 
Southward  from  Sec.  2  this  shore  line  is  not  marked  by  a  continuous 
beach  formation,  but  is  interrupted  by  wide  depressions  where  the  sur- 
face is  till.  Beach  gravel  and  sand  appear,  however,  in  some  amount  at 
Mr.  Thomas  Ward's,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Sec.  11,  T.  145,  II.  .55; 
also,  in  the  southwest  part  of  So(!.  23,  nearly  2  miles  farther  south. 
Within  1  to  3  mihvs  west  from  Ihose  socttions  an  area  of  undulating  and 
rolling  till  rises  to  1,200  an(l  1,25()  foot. 

Near  the  middle  of  the  north  half  of  Sec.  23,  T.  1  K),  II.  r>r),  the  elevation 
of  (his  beach  is  1,142  to  1,144  feet.  It  is  a  ridge  of  gravi^l  and  sand, 
extending  a  rpnirtor  of  a  mile  from  southeast  to  northwest,  with  (nest 
15  feet  above  the  surfa(!e  on  each  side.  Toward  the  oast  it  descends  in 
a  long  slope,  but  more  steeply  westward.  In  So(!.  14  this  shore  lin(5 
curves  westerly,  the  crests  of  its  soniowhat  irregular  beach  deposit < 
being  about  1,135  feet,  with  a  desc(!nt  of  10  to  15  feet  in  25  rods  east. 
Through  Sec.  1 1  they  range  from  1,135  to  1,1 17  feet,  being  highest  in  tlu^ 
SFi.  \,  where  the  des(!ont  eastward  is  20  feet  or  more.  These  beaidi  de- 
posits are  sand  and  gravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  1.]  or  2  inches  in  diameter, 
11.  54,  H  I  massed  in  llattened  hillocks (U*  swells,  mostly  ridgiul  longtliwiso  with  the 
let.    This  I  shore  and  occasionally  inclosing  hollows  without  outlet.    The  forma- 

(430) 


a  eh,  ap- 

)ecomes 

e  border 

visional 

.  18  it  is 
s  wide, 
an  ele- 

d  in  Sec. 

her  we. -.L 
in  See.  7 

>ut  adis 

sumgh, 

acres  of 

of  See. 

•or  1,105 

ob  Sees. 

IfSec.  10, 

,^  farther 

|its;  but, 

lS\V.,\or 

U.  54,  to 

id  Steele 


r>4 


XlPVVAl    t'-ACHES   or  LAKE  A(iASSIZ. 


[bull.  3!). 


urn. 


tion  liiis  a  width  of  a,  qnaitcr  of  a  iiiilo  or  more  in  its  northward  course 
through  the  west  part  of  tlio  cast  half  of  Sec.  11.  Aii  iindiilating  siir- 
iace  of  till  rises  slowly  to  tlie  west,  while  on  the  east  a  very  smooth  ex- 
panse of  till  sinks  slowly  toward  the  lied  lliver. 

Kerinau  beach  ridge,  30  rods  wide,  in  or  near  the  cast  edge  of  the 
SE.  j-  of  Sec.  2,  T.  1  Ifl,  11.  Tm,  1,125  feet.  Irregular  accumulations  of  the 
higher  beach  a  quarter  of  a  mile  farther  west,  approximately,  1,110  feet. 
These  upper  deposits  and  those  described  in  the  last  two  i)aragraphs 
seem  to  have  been  formed  while  the  lev(^l  of  this  jnargiri  of  Lake  Agassiz 
was  held  above  its  Ilerinau  stage  by  the  barrier  of  the  retreating  ice 
sheet,  still  remaining  nnmelted  within  a  few  miles  east,  and  by  that  of 
the  high  area  on  the  south  in  Ts.  141  and  115,  K.  51. 

Crest  of  the  Herman  beach,  a  definite  ridge  25  to  30  or  40  rods  wide, 
through  the  east  lialf  of  Sec.  2,  T.  110,  E.  55,  1,122  to  ],135  fer%  10 
to  15  ieet  above  the  land  east  and  with  a  dei»ressi()n  of  C*  to  8  feet  on 
the  west,  in  the  soutli  part  of  Sec.  35,  T.  117,  11.  55,  the  beach  ridgt^  is 
merged  in  a  Hat,  eastwardly  sloping  area  of  sand  and  ilno  gravel  at 
1,135  to  1,120  feet,  underlaid  by  till  at  the  dei)th  of  a  few  feet.  The 
beach  ridge  rea])pears  in  the  north  ])artof  this  Sec.  35  at  1,125  to  1,130 
feet. 

North  Fork  of  the  ^Middle  Rrancdi  of  (loose  lliver,  where  it  intersects 
the  Herman  beach  in  the  southeast  i)art  of  Se(!.  2(1,  T.  147,  11.  55,  aj)- 
proximately,  1,085  feet.  Its  bottomland  is  30  to  80  rods  wide,  bordered 
by  blulfs  rising  30  to  40  feet. 

Tiirough  Sees.  20  and  23,  T.  147,  11.  55,  the  Herman  shore  is  marked 
by  swells  and  Uattened  lidges  of  sand  and  fine  gravel  at  1,1. ">0  to  1,14.3 
feet,  occupying  a  widlh  of  an  eighth  lo  a  lliird  of  a  mile,  with  a  depres- 
sion of  several  feet  along  their  west  sid«^  Four  sloughs,  ehivalion  :  "•ouf 
1,120  feet,  lie  within  the  east  i)ai't  ol'  these  beacOi  <lei)()sils,  or  on  tluMi- 
east  bonier,  in  the  SIC.  |  of  Sec.  2.3.  In  the  south  i»art  of  Sec.  14,  this 
massive  but  irregular  beacih  has  an  elevation  of  1,1.32  feet  on  the  east 
side  of  a  large  slough. 

Jn  the  middle  of  Sec.  11,  T.  1 17,  11.  5.">,  the  beach  assumes  a  definitely 
ri<lged  form  and  extends  thus  northward  along  tin'  east  sid(^  of  (Joldeii 
Lake,  which  owes  its  existence  to  this  barricir.  Orestof  beach,  through 
the  center  and  north  ])artof  Se(!.  14, 1,1.32  to  1,1.37  feet;  in  Sec.  11, east 
of  Ciolden  Lake,  1,132  to  1,141  feetj  ami  at  (Jolden  Lake  post  ollicie,  in 
the  east  edge  of  the  SW.  .',  of  Sec.  2,  1,138  feet.  An  eighth  of  a  mile 
north  from  the  south  end  of  this  lake  the  action  of  its  waves  has  eroded 
the  greater  part  of  the  beach  ridge.  The  material  of  the  beach  ex|>o,s(d 
by  an  excavation  near  the  post  ollice  is  coarse  gravel,  with  very  abii-i 
dant  pebbles  np  to  3  jind  0(H:asionally  I  to  (►  inches  in  diameter. 

(Jolden  Lake,  Avater  July  2S,  1885,  1,122  feet  above  the  sea;  higlnsi 
level  reached  by  this  lake  in  recent  years,  1,128  feet.  It  is  a  beaulil'iil 
sheet  of  water,  1 1  miles  long  and  aciuarter  to  a  third  of  a  mile  wide,  lis 
west  shore  is  moderafely  undulating  till,  with  the  highest  swells  20  tolO 

(410) 


fcei 

the 

seei 

lak( 

aboi 

J>lac 

all  tl 

Jh 

L13i 

erod( 

I)art 

mile 

this  1 

lows 

round 

of  thi 

-'«,  M 
which 

The  la 
with  a 
Mor( 
short  n 
with  IK 
from  t 
Sec.  2;{, 
pressio 
<Iesceiit 
('re(!k  i 
beach, j 
westwai 

Ilerm 
^o  1,117 

of  beach 
liollows, 
be  close 
tion.     T 
a  \vry  o' 

(-Jontiii 

Sec.  10,  [ 

sion  on  it 

mately, 

-'0  rods  1 

'idge,  30 

edge  of  ^ 

«'oii  on  til 

.vend  is  ai 


UriIAM.J 


HERMAN    BEACH    IN   DAKOTA. 


55 


lu;  oast 
linilc'ly 

l,o:»st 
Vk'.o,  ill 
;i  milt' 

|xjH)St'll 

Sibil" 

i,ioh»-st 
Ian  I  i  I'll! 

lioto:'.t» 


feet  above  the  lake.  In  a  few  places  its  grassed  blnfls  rise  steeply  from 
the  Welter's  edge  10  to  20  feet.  Farther  west  the  rolling  surface  of  till, 
seen  for  a  distance  of  3  or  4  miles,  rises  to  1,225  or  1,250  feet.  This 
lake  has  no  trees  on  its  margiti,  excepting  two  small  cottonwootls,  '.:ach 
about  25  feet  high,  on  its  northwest  shore;  bushes  grow  in  several 
l)laces,  mostly  on  the  east ;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  lake  border,  like 
all  the  surrotuuling  country,  is  pniirie. 

lieach  ridge  through  the  north  part  of  Sec.  2,  T.  1 17,  li.  55,  1,138  to 
1,132  feet.  In  the  south  half  of  Sec.  35,  T.  I  IS,  11.  55,  it  has  been  mostly 
eroded  by  a  lake  winch  borders  this  beaeh  on  the  (Mist  from  the  north 
part  of  Sec.  2  to  Uie  north  part  of  Sc(!.  .Tt,  having  a  length  of  1 
mile  and  a  width  of  an  eighth  to  a  fourth  of  a  mile.  The  elevation  of 
this  lake  is  1,10 1  feet.  It  has  no  trees  nor  bushes,  ex(!epting  a  few  wil- 
lows 1  to  0  feet  high  near  the  middle  of  its  wi'st  side,  ami  is  wholly  sur- 
rounded by  har<l  grassy  shores.  Crest  of  bea(;h  west  of  the  north  pait 
of  this  lake,  1,1 10  to  1,112  feet,  and  through  the  south  half  of  section 
20,  1,137  to  1,142  feet,  similarly  bordered  on  the  east  by  two  lakelets, 
which  have  ap[)roximately  the  same  heiglitns  the  preceding,  1,104  feet. 
The  land  east  (d"  these  three  lakes  is  Hat,  1,1 1;>  to  1,117  feet  near  them, 
with  a  very  gentle  slope  descending  thenci^  eastward. 

More  dilTuse  and  irregular  beaeh  deposits  in  north  to  south  swells  and 
short  massive  ridges  of  gravel  and  sand,  iiu^losiug  occasional  hollows 
with  no  outlets,  some  of  which  hold  small  ])on(ls  and  sloughs,  extend 
from  the  north  edge  of  Sec.  2(1  northward  through  the  west  half  of 
Sec.  23,  T.  14S,  K.  55,  with  an  elevation  of  about  l,i;)5  feet.  The  de- 
ju'cssion  on  the  west  is  some  5  feet  lower  and  on  the  east  there  is  a 
descent  of  HMVet  from  the  crest  to  the  base  of  (he  beach.  I'ingal's 
(/reek  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  2.],  where,  it  intersecls  the 
beach,  about  1,110  feet.  I  Tudulat  ing  atul  rolling  till  within;)  or  4  miles 
westwarl  lisos  to  1,250  feet. 

Herman  beach  through  the  west  i)art  of  Sec.  M,  T.  IIS,  \l.  .-5,  1,142 
to  1,1  17  feet,  b(>ing  mainly  a  somewhat  typical  ridge,  with  short  swells 
of  be  ich  gravel  and  sand  on  its  east  side  10  to  15  feet  lower,  iiuilosing 
hollows,  but  few  or  no  sloughs.  Two  lakes  at  1,110  feet,  approximately,  ' 
lie  close  east  of  this  ln^ich  near  the  center  and  in  the  ''"W.  ',  oC  this  sec- 
tion. They  are  bordered  on  the  east  by  land  10  leet  higher,  from  which 
a  very  genth^  descent  slides  toward  the  lied  Kivcr. 

Contiuu'V'.ion  of  this  beach  ridge  noithward  through  tlui  east  edge  of 
Sec.  I(),  T.  1  IS,  U.  55,  1,112  to  1,11(1  feel,  3  to  5  feet  above  the  deprcs 
sion  on  its  west  side.  On  the  east,  three  lak"lctsat  1,120  I'eet,  approxi- 
mately, lie  in  the  west  edge  of  Hie  N\V.  \  of  Sec.  1 1,  each  being  about 
2()  rods  h)ng  from  south  to  north  and  15  rods  wide.  Crest  of  beach 
ridge,  30  to  10  rods  wide,  extending  nearly  due  north  through  the  east 
edge  of  Sec.  3,  1,111  to  1,15(>  feet:  cast  base  about  1,125  feel;  depres- 
sion on  the  west,  5  to  10  feet,  nearly  level  \\\y-m  a.  width  of  10  rods;  be- 
yond is  an  ascent  of  undulating  and  rolling  till  to  1,250  feet  within  2 

(441) 


56 


UPPER  REACHES  OP  LAKE  AGASSIZ. 


[BULL.  39. 


UPlfA 


or  3  miles.  In  the  SW.  j  of  the  SW.  ^  of  Sec.  3G,  T.  149,  R.  55,  this 
Herman  shore  is  marked  by  irreguhir  swells  and  massive  short  ridges 
of  gravel  and  sand,  with  occasional  inclosed  sloughs.  This  is  succeeded 
by  a  half  mile  of  the  ordinary  continuous  single  ridge,  1,147  to  1,150 
ibet.  . 

Watercourse  intersecting  the  beach  near  the  northwest  corner  of 
Sec.  3G,  T.  149, 11. 55,  about  1,115  feet ;  bottomland  10  to  15  feet  higher, 
a  third  of  a  mile  wide,  bordered  by  bluffs  rising  about  25  feet  above  it. 
Some  portions  of  this  creek  are  very  shallow  or  dry,  with  scarcely  any 
channel,  but  other  portions  arc  pools  C  to  9  feet  deep  and  20  feet  wide, 
extending  10  to  20  rods  or  more. 

Magnificent  beach  ridge,  passing  north-northwest  through  the  east 
part  of  Sees.  2G  and  23,  T.  149,  E.  55  (Lind),  1,147  to  1,150  feet.    A  road, 
which  was  formerly  an  Indian  trail,  runs  on  its  top  here  and  for  several 
miles  northward.    This  beach  is  composed  of  the  usual  sand  and  gravel, 
thickly  filled  with  pebbles  up  to  2  and  rarely  4  inches  in  diameter.     It 
forms  a  broad  wavelike  ridge,  30  to  40  rods  wide,  including  the  slopes. 
On  its  west  side  is  a  depression  of  5  to  10  feet,  20  to  GO  rods  wide,  which 
is  moist  grass  lai-.;i,  excepting  a  small  reedy  slough  in  the  south  edge 
of  Sec.  11.    Farther  west  undulating  and  rolling  till  rises  to  1,175  feet 
within  a  quarter  or  a  third  of  a  mile  and  attains  a  height  of  1,250  to 
1,300  feet  within  3  to  5  miles.    On  the  east  side  of  this  upper  ETerman 
beach  there  is  a  very  smooth  slope  descending  25  or  30  feet  in  as  many 
rods.    Next  is  a  nearly  level  belt  20  to  GO  rods  wide,  increasing  in  width 
from  south  to  north,  succeeded  by  a  lower  Herman  beach  ridge  rising 
8  to  10  feet,  with  its  crest  at  1,127  to  1,130  feet,  or  20  feet  below  theup- 
per  beach.    These  parallel  Herman  beaches  are  very  finely  developed 
thus  for  nearly  G  miles,  passing  north  tlirough  Sees.  23,  14,  11,  and  2, 
T.  149,  11.  55,  and  the  southwest  part  of  Sec.  35,  T.  150,  K.  55.    High 
portion  of  the  upper  beach  in  the  south  edge  of  Sec.  14,  1,153  feet,  and 
depression  west,  1,1 12  feet;  crest  onward  through  this  section,  1,153  to 
1,149  feet.    In  the  north  ])art  of  Sec.  11  and  the  south  edge  of  Sec.  2, 
it  is  a  few  feet  lower,  is  irregular  in  height  and  outlines  because  of 
interse<'ting  watercourses,  and  has  a  less  continuous  and  shallower 
depression  on  its  west  side.    In  Sec;.  2,  however,  l)oth  beach  ridges  are 
finely  displayed,  having  tlie  same  contour  as  southward.    Crest  of  up- 
])er  beach  in  Sees.  2  and  35,  1,152  to  1,155  feet ;  dei)ression  on  the  w(\st, 
S  to  15  feet,  partly  occupied  by  a  long  slough.    The  northwest  part  of 
Sec.  3"),  in  the  course  of  these  beaches,  is  lower  smooth  till,  with  no  de- 
jwsits  of  sand  and  gravel. 

Ooo*se  Iviver,  near  the  north  line  of  the  N  W.  \  of  Sec.  35,  and  the  Lit- 
tle (lOose  River,  in  the  north  part  of  Sec.  15,  T.  150,  R.  55,  where  they 
cross  the  ancient  lake  shore,  are  in  valleys  about  30  feet  deep,  eroded 
in  till.     Each  (consists  of  pools  5  to  7  feet  deep  and  10  to  20  feet  wide,, 
alternating  with  other  portions  so  nairow  that  omi  may  step  across  them,  j 

In  the  east  part  of  the  west  hah  of  See  Jii  and  the  southwest  coruerj 

(142) 


ofSi 

mile 

lar  s 

feet. 

their 

low  as 

of  san 

to  15  J 

rods. 

>egnla 
small  1 
Sec.  JO 
15  to  2( 
feet  on 
west  ed, 
cepting 
^"^K.  i  ot 
east  con 
scending 
Lower 
tJ'e  foreg 
Sec.  ,3,  T. 

«^"5feetti 
HT.151, 
t^l)I)er  I 
f''«t  part 
""ithwestt 
f'lf^  southw 
''''''5.  •'5,  1,15 
n<'aj)oIis  an 
I  ■^""fh  ])art 
! ""'  track,  a 
h^'"'d.    'J'„.<] 
Iwoiid  beac 


UPHAM.l 


HERMAN    I?EACH   IN    DAKOTA. 


57 


5CC.  -•, 

luse  oV 
luowcr 

|)iirt  of 


lUcLit- 
»roile«l 

Icorucr! 


of  Sec.  23,  T.  150,  R.  55,  the,  upper  Herman  shore  is  oflfset  a  third  of  a, 
mile  east  from  the  reiualiuler  of  its  course  ami  consists  of  massive  irregu- 
lar swells  of  till,  partly  overspread  with  <5ravel  and  sand,  1,152  to  1,160 
feet.    Among  them  are  hollows  4  to  G  feet  deep  without  outlet,  and 
their  entire  belt,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide,  is  crossed  by  depressions  as 
low  as  1,145  feet.    Through  Sec.  22  this  shore  bears  a  typical  beach  ridge 
of  sand  and  gravel,  40  or  50  rods  wide,  1,157  feet,  with  depression  of  10 
to  15  feet  on  the  west ;  descent  of  eastern  slope,  20  to  25  feet  in  30  or  40 
rods.    In  Sec.  15  this  upper  beach,  1,152  to  1,157  feet,  has  a  quite  ir- 
regular form,  chiefly  due  to  erosion  by  tlie  Little  Goose  Kiver  and  its 
small  tributaries.    It  is  again  exliibitcd  in  its  ordinary  typo  through 
Sec.  10,  being  a  ridge  25  or  30  rods  wide,  with  crest  at  1,155  to  1,157  feet, 
15  to  20  feet  above  its  east  base,  and  w  ith  a  narrow  depression  of  4  to  8 
feet  on  the  west;  through  the  west  part  of  Sec.  3,  T.  150,  K.  55,  and  the 
west  edge  of  the  SW.  J  of  Sec.  34,  T.  151,  K.  55,  1,157  to  1,159  feet,  ex- 
cepting gaps  cut  by  small  watercourses ;  and  in  the  east  edge  of  the 
NE.  i  of  Sec.  33, 1,154  to  1,157  feet.    Tliiity  rods  west  from  the  north- 
east corner  of  this  Sec.  33,  its  elevation  is  1,155  feet,  with  slopes  de- 
scending 12  feet  eastward  and  S  feet  westward. 

Lower  Herman  beach,  a  half  mile  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east  of 
the  foregoing,  in  the  west  edge  of  Sees.  14  and  11  and  the  east  edge  of 
Sec.  3,  T.  150,  11.  55,  1,130  to  1,135  feet,  from  which  there  is  a  descent 
of  5  feet  to  its  west  base  and  10  feet  to  the  east.  From  the  Sl<^.  ^  of  Sec. 
34,  T.  151,  K.  55,  this  beach  j^asses  northeasterly  to  Larimorc. 

Upper  Herman  beach,  a  well  delined  ridge,  running  north  through  the 
oast  part  of  Sec.  28,  T.  151,  K.  55, 1,155  to  1,150  feet;  thence  north- 
northwesterly  through  Sees.  21  and  10,  1,157  to  1,100  feet,  and  through 
the  southwest  pirt  of  Sex;.  0,  the  northeast  of  Sec.  8,  and  the  SK.  4  ot 
S('(!.  5,  1,157  to  1,102  feet.  Where  it  is  crossed  by  the  Saint  ranl,Min- 
ii(".ii)olis  and  Manitoba.  Hallway  from  Larimorc  to  Devil's  Lake,  in  the 
soutli  part  of  the  NE.  |  of  Sec.  5,  its  crest  was  1,1(>2  feet,  4  feet  above 
the  track,  and  it  holds  the  same  height  for  about  50  rods  northeast- 
wiinl.  Two-lifths  of  a  mile  east  from  this  beach  the  railroad  crosses  a 
Stroud  beach  deposit  whose  crest  and  the  track  are  the  same,  1,140  feet. 

SlIOUE   WEST   OF  TlIK  ELK  AND  OOLDJ.N  VALLEYS. 

Through  Sec.  32,  T.  152,11.  55  (Elm  (J rove),  the  upper  beac:    runs 

Imrth westerly,  its  elevation  being  1,100  to  1,103  feet.    Its  material  is 

[oarse  gravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  0  inches  in  diauicter,  in  part  accu- 

iiiilated  as  a  ridge  10  or  15  feet  above  the  land  at  its  base  northeast 

\m\  5  to  H  feet  above  its  southwest  buse,  and  in  part  lying  on  the  think  of 

[\\■i^U  of  very  stony  till,  the  crests  of  which  are  only  5  to  10  feet  iMgher 

the  beach.    This  till  or  inorainic  drift  contains  a  multitude  of 


triuiilic  and  limestone  bowldiMS  up  to  l._^  feet  in  diameter,  but  fewer 
poiio.  of  larger  si/e.     in  the  rolling  till  which  rises  thence  westward  to 

(113) 


58 


TTPPKR    BEACHES    OE   LAKE   AGASSIZ. 


I  HULL.  30. 


trfHA 


1,250  or  1,300  feet  within  2  or .']  miles,  firo  numy  granitic  bowlders  up  to 
5  feet  or  moro  in  diainet«'r,  exceeding  the  usual  proportion  in  the  till  of 
this  region. 

In  the  north  edge  of  Sec.  32  and  the  south  part  of  Sec.  29,  T.  1.'52, 
R.  55,  this  beach  is  the  terracelike  border  of  a  nearly  level  tract  of  san«l 
and  gravel  an  eighth  of  a  mile  or  more  in  width,  at  an  elevation  of  1,171 
to  1,173  feet.  The  bordering  slope  is  beach  gravel,  with  its  base  at  1,155 
to  1,158 feet;  but  the  slow  descent  thence  eastward  is  till,  somewhat 
eroded  by  wave  action  and  having  many  small  and  large  granitic  bowl- 
ders up  to  4  or  0  feet  in  diameter  strewn  on  the  surface  or  partially  cov- 
ered by  the  soil.  In  the  NE.  |  of  Sec.  30  this  upper  Herman  beach 
is  typically  developed,  being  a  gracefully  rounded  ridge  of  sand  and 
gravel,  25  or  30  rods  wide;  crest,  1,105  to  1,100  feet;  foot  of  eastern 
slope,  1,150  feet;  depression  west,  usually  2  (o  5  feet,  beyond  which  is  a 
slowly  {iscending  area  of  smooth  undulating  till. 

Upper  beach  through  Set;.  10,  T.  152,  li.  55,  a  low  rounded  ridge  of 
sand  and  gravel  about 25  rods  wide;  crest,  1,1()(}  to  1,108  feet;  base  of  its 
east  slope  on  the  north  line  of  this  section,  1,158.  In  the  SW.  j  of 
Sec.  18,  this  beach  is  cut  by  the  Soulii  Uranch  of  the  Turtle  Kiver;  its 
elevation  in  this  section  south  of  the  streiim  is  1 ,1(57  to  1,108  feet.  There 
is  no  considerable  valley  here  suid  tlu^  cicck  runs  only  in  spring  or  after 
unusual  rains,  being  recbuH'd  to  stagnant  pools  during  the  rest  of  the 
year.  Within  2  miles  southeast,  however,  it  bectomes  a  living  stream, 
fed  by  almost  ice-cold  springs;  and  then(!e  to  the  secondary  Herman 
beach,  near  Larimore,  it  has  cut  a  valley  ,50  to  00  ieet  dee[». 

Kim  (jii'ove,  comprising  iil)()ut  5  .acres,  is  on  tins  creek,  a  third  of 
a  mile  east  of  the  upper  Herman  shore  line,  whu  n  continues  north- 
northwestward  through  the  southwest  partof  Svc;.  IS,  T.  152, 11. 55,  and 
the  northeast  edge  of  Sec.  13,  T.  152,  11.  5(1  (Xi;igara),  to  the  west  side 
of  Little  l']lm  (Jrove,  10  acnes  or  more  in  extent,  in  the  east  partof  Se(!. 
12.    Along  this  distance  of  lA  miles  the  suiHum;  presimts  a  very  favor- 
able slope,  from  1,150  to  1,200  feet  elevation,  on  which  a  beach  ridge  or 
<lefinito  beach  deposits  would  usually  be  found  well  develo])i'd  ;  bnttlu^ 
waves  and  currents  of  Lake  Agassiz  (;oul(l  not  act  very  etliciently  here,  I 
because  this  area  lay  in  the  lee  of  islands  and  a  wave-formed  bar  ori 
beach  s(!veral  miles  to  the  east,  which  are  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  1 
Elk  Valley.    Consequently  dei)Osits  of  bi'acli  san<l  and  gravel  are  scanty  | 
on  the  U])per  western  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz  here  and  for  40  miles  north-  r 
ward  along  the  extent  of  the  FAk  and  (lolden  Valleys,  east  of  which| 
a  narrow  chain  of  islands  ami  bars  rose,  ibove  the  surface  of  Lake  Agas-I 


are  j 
but 
Fi 

(con; 
incoi 
any , 
tend? 
30,  T 
it  pat 
head 
a  (jua 
<lense 
bur  01 
miles  I 
of  Lai 
Mi(i  sti 
Surf 
Sec.  3: 
Turtle 
nel  (dr 
trenchl 
Hern 
passing 
1,105  to 
ro«ls  wi 
in  diam 
land  on 
feet,  bo 
rises  to 
'n  the  ^ 
sisting  ( 
1,1(57  to 
pression 

Surfao 

of  S(!C.  1 

half  ini]( 

p.'irtofS 

Throng 

Sec.  2,  T, 

junction 

'lortheasl 

Iferman 

«iderablol 

'inguishe 

along  a  nl 

«'aci,'il  lal 


tiriiAM.i 


HERMAN   nKACH    IN   DAKOTA. 


59 


iliinl  of 
novth- 
r}r>,im«l 
est  suU' 
It  of  t^ec. 
V  fivvor- 
lvi»lp;c  ov 
I;  butt  ho 
illy  ht'YO, 
jl  bar  or 
|ryoftbo| 
[\\  scanty  l| 
lesnortli-|: 
hf  wli\cb| 

Ike  \S^% 
JrancU  o^ 
Lists  onlyf 
W of  till* 
,sy  cbani 
Live  rsiiiif 


arc  almost  completely  paved  with  stones  up  to  1  or  2  feet  in  diameter, 
but  few  stones  oceur  upon  tlie  adjoininj;'  surface  of  till. 

From  the  Little  l]\m  Grove  the  liij;]iest  western  shore  of  Lake  A^jassiz 
(consisting'  of  a  similar  slope  of  till  ascendin;>'  sently  westward,  with 
inconspicuous  deposits  of  beach  gravel  and  sand,  imt  accumulated  in 
any  distinct  ridj>e,  but  probably  reco<;nizable  almost  continuously)  ex- 
tends northward  throuj;h  Sees.  12  and  1,  T.  1">2,  11. 50,  and  Sees.  31  and 
.'](),  T.  1  ."),'>,  It.  55  (Agnes),  to  the  central  part  of  Bachelors'  Grove,  which 
it  passes  through  in  the  west  half  of  Sec.  oO.  This  grove  borders  the 
head  stieam  of  Turtle  liiver  for  lA  miles,  with  an  average  width  of  about 
a  (piarter  of  a  mile,  thus  comprising  approxinnitely  250  acres.  It  is 
dense  woods,  ehielly  elui  and  basswood  in  its  east  half,  but  nearly  all 
bur  oak  for  the  west  half.  IVIuch  bur  oak  is  also  found  along  several 
miles  of  this  streaiu  next  westward,  but  it  is  not  seen  from  the  margin 
of  Lake  Agnssi/,  IxMug  hidden  in  the  valley,  40  to  50  feet  deep,  which 
the  stream  has  eroded  in  that  area  of  undulating  and  rolling  till. 

Surface  at  M.  S.  Wallace's  house,  iu  the  middle  of  the  west  edge  of 
Sec.  32,  T.  15.;,  J  I.  55,  1,140  feet.  Bridge  over  the  North  Branch  of 
Turtle  Kiver  on  the  east  lino  of  the  SE.  .[  of  Sec.  30,  1,150  feet;  chan- 
nel (dry  August  5,  18S5),  1,142  feet.  There  is  no  valley  here,  only  a 
trenchlike  channel  in  the  (lat  cxi)anse  of  Lake  Agassiz,  H  feet  deep. 

Herman  beach,  for  the  lirst  mile  or  more  iKuih  from  Bachelors'  Grove, 
passing  through  the  NW.  J:  of  Sec.  30  and  tile  west  edge  of  Sec.  10, 
J, 105  to  1,170  feet.  This  is  mostly  a  well  delined  beach  ridge,  20  to  30 
rods  wide,  composed  of  sand  and  gravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  2  inches 
in  diameter,  it  rises  slowly  to  a  height  of  10  or  12  feet  above  the  Hat 
land  on  the  east  and  is  bordered  on  the  west  by  a  depression  of  1  to.3 
feet,  beyond  which  a  smoothly  undulating  and  rolling  surface  of  till 
rises  to  an  elevation  of  1,200  and  1,250  feet  at  a  distance  of  3  miles. 
In  the  NW.  \  of  this  Sec.  10  the  beach  deposit  becomes  comidex,  con- 
sisting of  several  irregidar  ridges  rising  5  to  8  leet  above  their  bases, 
1,1(;7  to  1,170  feet  above  sea  level,  with  inchvsod  hollows,  and  the  de- 
pression close  west  o(!(^asi(^ially  sinks  to  1,155  feet. 

Surface  at  Michael  iMcMalion's  house,  40  rods  west  from  the  centi-r 
of  Sec.  i;i,  T.  153,  Jl.  50  (Oak wood),  1,170  feet.  Rounded  hill  of  till  a. 
half  mile  nortlieast,  about  1,205  leet;  swells  of  till  in  the  southwest 
part  of  Sees.  12  and  2,  1,105  to  1,210  feet. 


ilso 


00 


UPI'KIt    r.EAf'UKS    OF    LAKE    AGASSIZ. 


liiri.L.  30. 


by  occasional  beach  (lei)osits.  Through  the  south  liaHof  Sec.  20  a  some- 
what tyi>ical  beacli  ridueofsaml  atid  {jfravel,  15  to  25  rods  wide,  with  a 
depression  of  3  to  0  tVet  on  its  west  side,  runs  nortli  and  nortliwest,  its 
crest  being  at  1,175  to  1,170  feet,  declining  from  south  to  north.  On 
the  east  its  slope  falls  5  to  10  feet  in  10  to  20  rods;  .and  thence  a  more 
gentle  descent,  witli  surface  of  s.ind  and  fine  gravel,  sinks  to  1,155  feet 
within  an  eightli  of  a  mile.  In  the  NW.  |  of  this  Sec.  2(5  the  beach  ridge 
ceases  and  is  succeeded  northward  by  an  expanse  of  nearly  Hat  till, 
which  along  the  north  lino  of  this  section  sinks  eastward  from  1,175  to 
1,155  feet. 

Elk  Valley,  for  12  miles  from  Elm  Grove  and  McCanna  north  to  Forest 
Kiver,  is  nearly  constant  in  elevation,  which  is  1,155  feet  on  its  west 
border  and  1,135  feet  near  its  east  side,  its  average  width  being  about 
4  miles. 

Surface  at  Frank  Hamilton's  honse,  in  the  center  of  the  NE.  ^  of  Sec. 
15,  T.  151,  K.  50,  1,1 7S  feet. 

Upp<'r  Herman  beach,  a  definite  and  massive  ridge  of  sand  and  fine 
gravel,  25  to  10  ro«ls  wide,  for  a  half  mile  south. from  the  South  Branch 
of  Forest  Itiver,  in  the  west  part  of  the  N  W.  j  of  Se(;.  14,  T.  154,  It.  50, 
1,173  to  1,178  feet,  passing  north  and  northwest,  with  a  descent  of  12 
to  15  feet  on  the  east  and  a  depression  of  4  to  8  feet  on  the  west. 

Beyond  this  branch  of  the  Forest  llivca*,  in  the  lunth  half  of  Sec.  10, 
the  beach  ridge,  similar  in  outline,  with  its  crest  at  1,174  to  1,170  feet, 
is  the  site  of  an  abandoned  railway  grade,  on  account  of  which  its  mate- 
rial is  well  exhibited.     It  is  sand  and  gravel,  and  three-fourths  of  the 
pebbles,  mostly  less  than  2  inches  in  diameter,  are  dark  gray  slaty  shale. 
Twenty  miles  to  the  south-southeast  the  same  shale  in  small  grains 
makes  fully  two-thirds  of  a  stratum  of  sand  that  extends  from  20  to  00 
feet  in  depth  in  the  well  at  the  Shernuui  House,  Larimore.     I'ebblesof 
it  were  also  observed  in  kamelike  deposits  of  gravel  and  sand  near  ; 
Halaton,  Lyon  County,  in  Southwestern  IMinnesota.     During  the  further  j 
exploration  of  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz  this  shale  was  dis    '{ 
covered  in  ]>la(!e  and  is  fi)nnd  to  be  the  bed  rock,  of  cretaceous  age,  s 
which  forms  the  conspicuous  escarpment  of  Pembina  iMountain,  though  i 
even  there  it  is  generally  covered  and  concealed  by  drift.  I 

Natural  surface  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Sec.  3,  T.  154, 11.  50,  on  the! 
line  between  Grand  Forks  and  Walsh  Counties,  1,181  feet. 

The  upi)er  Herman  shore  i)asse8  north-northwesterly  through  this 
corner  of  Sec.  3  and  the  east  part  of  Sec.  33,  T.  155, 11.  50  (Medford),  t<K 
the  Middle  JJraiudi  of  Forest  Jiiver  (farther  east  formerly  called  Saltl 
River),  which  it  reai-hes  near  the  center  of  the  east  half  of  Sec.  28.  16- 
has  only  scanty  deposits  of  beach  gravel  and  sand,  nowhere  forming  s| 
ridge;  instead,  the  surface  is  m.iinly  till,  very  Hat  east  of  this  shoro|, 
but  undulating  or  rolling  westward.  | 

The  South  and  Middle  lU-anches  of  Forest  Itiver  occupy  valleys  25  t§ 
40  feet  deei)  and  20  to  30  rods  wide.    They  are  bordered  with  giw 

(410) 


fl'H 

or 
con 
h 
higj 

1,1S, 

•scan 

half 

thai 

Ju; 

S*incr 
These 
feet  ii 

«urfac 

(feiit.  o 
<^'asteri 
I       accunu 
'I  I>aus( 
with  nc 
I      ^-,  and 

'      Its  hills 

joining  s 

I      above  th 

j;      ilar  devt 

t^xtenfc 
I      "50  to  75 
C     matter  w 
«niall  roe 
\     with  stri 
area  iuc 
"ndulati/ 
Anothe 
'"  its  n)a 
'« the  cret 
'•"widers, 

part  of  Se 

"est  lialf 

'ind  10,  T. 

'•>  ji  group 

I'ost  o/iiee. 

^''■'»  part  of 

^'^i'y  smoot 

These  nu 

s«a,  formed 

nearly  7  lui] 


LTHAM.) 


HERMAN    BEACH    IN    JUKOTA. 


fil 


\ 


il 

ta 

re 

•et 

ni, 

» to 

L-est 

)OUt 

Sec. 

I  fine 
ancU 
II.  50, 
of  V-i 


ec.10, 
0  le«'t, 
\  mato- 

of  tlu-    : 

sUal*'. 

jvraius    i 

0  to  00   I 

bblesof 

^nrtlitT 

as  <^i^ 
Ins  ap;*'i 
thou^l» 

on  the' 

igli  tliiii 

ied  Si^^*l 
2S.    If 

Is  sl»ov4 


.ys  25  tj 
o;V()VOi( 


or  at  least  a  continuons  line  of  trees,  alonj,'  the  jjreater  part  of  their 
course. 

In  the  NW.  \  of  Sec.  28  and  the  west  part  of  See.  L'l,  T.  M5, 11. 50,  the, 
highest  shore  line  of  Lake  Agassi/,  is  very  distini^tly  marked,  at  l,l.S;>  to 
1,185  feet,  by  being  the  upper  edge  of  a  Hat  slojje  of  till,  pmbiibly  with 
scanty  deposits  of  gravel  and  sand,  which  sinks  L'O  to  .'50  feet  in  the  next 
half  mile  eastward.  Farther  east,  for  the  width  of  3  or  1  miles  across 
the  Elk  Valley,  the  surface  elevation  is  1,100  to  1,125  feet. 

Just  west  of  this  shore  lino  a  knolly  belt  of  moraini(!  drift,  bearing  a 
marvelous  profusion  of  bowlders,  occupies  a  width  of  25  to  50  rods, 
generally  forming  a  single  series  of  hillocks  rising  15  to  30  or  35  feet. 
These  are  strewn  with  bowlders  of  all  sizes  up  to  5  feet  and  raiely  8 
feet  in  diameter,  so  plentiful  that  they  cover  a  third  or  even  half  of  the 
surface.  A  few  masses  of  limestone  were  observed  ;  but  liilly  91)  per 
cent,  of  the  bowlders  are  archean  granite  and  gneiss.  This  is  the  most 
eastern  portioti  of  a  sendcircular  moraine,  which  api)ears  to  have  been 
accumulated  on  the  eastern  boundary  of  a  lobe  of  the  ice  sheet  during 
a  pause  in  its  retreat.  From  Sees,  lil  and  28  this  moraine  continues, 
with  nearly  the  same  features,  south  and  southwest  to  the  SI'].  [  of  Sec. 
32,  and  thence  west-southwest  by  Pilot  Knob  in  the  N\V. ,[  of  Sec.  5,  T. 
154,  K.5G,  to  the  west  side  of  Sec.  1,  T.  154,  li.57,  and  perhaps  beyond. 
Its  bills  and  knobs  rise  25  to  75  feet  above  the  general  level  of  the  ad- 
joining smoothly  undulating  till,  their  tops  being  1,L'50  to  1,300  feet 
above  the  sea.  To  the  north,  northwest,  Jind  west  it  reaches,  with  sim- 
ilar development,  in  a  great  curve  convex  to  the  northeast,  along  an 
extent  of  5  or  0  miles,  to  a  cluster  of  prominent  morainic  hills  rising 
50  to  75  feet,  situated  in  Sees.  2  and  3,  T.  155,  E.  57.  This  moraine 
matter  was  doubtless  englacial ;  among  its  multitude  of  both  large  and 
small  rock  fragments  a  half  hour's  search  failed  to  discover  any  marked 
with  striic  or  having  surfaces  planed  by  glaciation.  On  the  west  the 
area  inclosed  by  this  curving  moraine  is  very  smooth,  only  slightly 
undulating  till,  at  1,185  to  1,250  feet,  ascending  slowly  westward. 

Another  distinct  morainic  series,  similar  in  its  very  knolly  contour, 
in  its  nuiterial  (excepting  a  larger  i)roportion  of  gravel,  half  of  which 
is  the  cretaceous  shale  before  described),  and  in  the  great  abundance  of 
bowlders,  nearly  all  granitic,  branches  iiom  the  preceding  in  the  north 
part  of  See.  8,  T.  155,  It.  50,  and  sweeps  northeast  and  north  through  the 
west  half  of  Sec.  4,  and  thence  northwest  and  west  through  Sees.  32,  29, 
and  19, T.  150,  K.  50  (Vernon),  and  Sees.  13  to  10,  T.  150,  K.57  (Norton), 
to  a  group  of  morainic  hills  about  75  feet  high,  a  mile  northwest  of  (lalt 
post  ollice.  Between  this  curved  moraine  and  the  nearly  parallel  north- 
ern part  of  the  preceding,  4  mihis  distant  to  the  sojith,  the  surface  is 
very  smooth  undulating  till,  rising  slowly  toward  the  west. 

These  moraines,  with  their  east  base  at  1,185  to  1,170  feet  above  the 
sea,  formed  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz  at  its  highest  stage  for 
nearly  7  miles  between  the  Middle  and  North  Branches  of  the  Forest 

(447) 


62 


ITPHU    I!KA("m;S   OF    LAKK    A(iASSl/,. 


liai.i,.  llt>. 


KivtT.  Tlu>  North  Dniiicl!  iiitL'isi'ctH  this  .shoic  lino  iieur  tho  center  of 
Hec.  L'(>,  T.  ITiO,  It.  nil  (;h».sc  to  th.i  .soutiiwcst  end  ol'  Itiunscy's  groves, 
wliieh  exlen<l  thence  ahout  ii  niUe  along  this  Avatereourso  in  tho  north 
])art  of  Sei!.  20  and  the  UK.  1  ot"  See.  17.  The  .stream  in  these  st'ctions 
has  no  valley,  only  a  ehannel  I'Oto  .JO  feet  wide  and  10  feet  deep. 

K.levation  of  road  at  the  southeast  corner  of  this  iSec.  20,  1,177  feet. 

(5olden  \alley,on  the  northlineof  Sees,  t  and  5,  T.  M^;,  11.  oO,  l,18.5to 
1  lt>r»  feet,  showing  an  ascent  of  10  feet  Irom  east  to  west  in  its  width  of 
1!  jniles.  Ai)ont  the  same  transverse  slope,  raising  tho  west  side  of  this 
valley  10  or  15  feet  above  its  east  sitle,  is  found  along  its  whole  extent 
of  L*0  miles  or  more^  from  the  Middle  and  Xovth  liranchesof  Forest  Kivet 
to  tho  Middle  and  Xorth  Jiranehes  of  i'ark  liiver.  In  tho  north  half  of 
T.  liiii,  It.  aO,  and  thence  northward,  tho  width  of  this  valley  varies  from 
1  •*  miles  to  oidy  1  mile.  It  is  Hat  and  consists  mainly  of  clay,  free  from 
gravel;  but  wells  llnd  gravel  intermixed  with  tho  clay,  probably  till, at 
a  depth  of  a  few  feet,  and  about  20  feet  from  tho  surface  they  sometimes 
encounter  a  waterbearing  stratum  of  gravel,  chielly  made  up  of  cro- 
tiiv^eous  shale. 

.N'atural  Kiirlaco  at  tho  southwest  corner  of  Sec.  27,  T.  157,  It.  50 
(G:a'liel(l),  1,101  feet.  Highest  part  of  (Jolden  V'alley  south  of  the 
South  Uranctls  of  I'arU  Itiver,  along  the  north  line  of  Sees.  27,  2S,  and 
20,  in  this  townshii»,  1,H)0  feet  on  the  east  to  1,211  feet  on  the  west. 
Surface  at  school- house  on  the  west  side  of  tho  N\\\  [  of  Sec.  21, 
1,207  feet. 

South  Branch  of  Park  liiver  at  the  (larlield  bridge,  near  tho  middle 
of  the  north  line  of  See.  21,  T.  157,  11.  5(5,  1,170  feet,  apitroximately  ; 
bottomland  about  a  (piarter  of  a  mile  wide,  10  to  15  fei't  above  the 
stream;  crest  of  the  south  blulV  rising  to  the  Hat  belt  of  the  (lolden 
V'alley,  1,101  to  1,200  feet,  ascending  westward  ;  of  the  north  blulf,  1,LS0 
to  1,205  f»!et. 

Golden  Valley,  on  the  north  line  of  Sec.  5,  T.  157,  \i.  50, 1,105  to  1,205 
feet;  2  miles  fartlua*  north,  on  the  north  line  o!'  f-jec.  20,  T.  158,  It.  5(> 
(Lampton),  1,108  to  1,208  feet.     In  this  northern  part  of  the  valley  lim 
ited  tracts  of  its  Hat  area  are  strewn  with  abundant  bowlders  nj)  to  2 
feet  and  less  frefiuently  3  or  4  feet  in  diameter.    They  aio  jnobably 
where  swells  of  till  rose  nearly  to  the  surface  of  the  water  in  this  strait 
of  Lake  Agassiz,  so  that  its  line  jiortions  were  swept  away  by  waves  | 
and  currents,  to  be  deposited  elsewhere  in  tho  valley  as  clayey  silt,  leav- 
ing the  masses  of  rock  which  could  not  be  thus  removed.     Approach- 
ing tho  Middle  l>rani;h  of  Park  liiver,  the  surface  of  Golden  V^alleyi 
continues  very  snu)oth  and  Hat,  but  it  ceases  to  have  a  continuous  ascent- 
from  east  to  west,  some  portions  along  the  center  being  depressed  a  few! 
feet.    Such  a  shallow  hollow  holds  a  slough  about  a  mile  long  front 
south  to  north  and  a  half  mile  wide  in  its  broadest  part,  at  1,193  fcetl 
extending  from  the  north  edge  of  Sec.  20  through  tho  west  part  of  Se(^ 
17,  T.  158,  It.  50,  iu  which  a  snudl  area  of  water  remains  throughout 

(448) 


I 


lltllA 

the 

(his 

TJ 

Lak( 

J>y  d. 

on  tJi 

iUe  o 

<;our.s 

Sees. 

'o7,Ii 

tho  IK 

it  rum 

throu^: 

l>ost  oj 

(ioldoi 

IhisI] 

VilUvy 

50;  bui 

\^illey, 

Ked  in 

border  t 

Smoot 
ern  j)urt 

of  (ill  at 
(ho  sea. 
«ome  1)01 
niile  to  tl 
less  asce 
^V  terrj 
11])  to  G  ii 

'lortJnves 
ii.  5(>,  abi 
\vhieh  ma 
currents  e 
bordering 
tills  sand 
Agassi;^,  Ji 
bj  south,  ;i 
100  to  500 
'<'sts  upon 
I^^iitural 
^  T.  158, 
^<^(^.  5, 1^20 
Middle  L 
'"'^tely,  1,1; 
tJiis  stream 


4,, 

I 


uriiAM.J 


IIKKMAN    bHAL'll    l.N    KAKoTA. 


(;;{ 


tu 

us 

ot. 
ito 

[his 

:ent 

ivt'i 

If  oi 

Totn 

from 

U,iit 

limes 

f  cre- 

U.  50 
.f  U»»' 
S,  uiul 
',  west, 
i^c.  21, 

iiitUlle 

liiilely  •, 
vc  the 
lokleii 

ir,i,ist> 

toi,'jor)  . 
K.  5r> 

Icy  liiu 
ip  to  '-^ 
lobiibly 
IS  strait 
w  aves 
|lt,  leav- 
kpvoach- 
t  Valley^ 
Is  asecut 
id  a  few^ 

It  of  Seoli. 
loui^Uoai 


th(i  .year.     On  each  side  of  this  slouyh  ami  for  miles  .south  iiiid  north, 
this  vaMey  is  a  great  hay  mea(h)\v. 

The  west  border  of  tlie  (loMeii  \'aUey  was  the  most  western  slioreoi 
Lake  Agassi/  in  its  liighest  stage,  hut  it  is  only  very  scjantily  marked 
by  deposits  of  beaeh  gravel  and  sand,  becauseof  its  sUelteved  position 
on  tlie,  western  and  h^eward  sith;  of  this  narrow  strait.  From  th  » ndd- 
illo  of  See.  1*0,  T.  ir)«>,  \l.  r>(;,  this  shore  line  extendti  in  a  quite  direct 
course  a  few  degrees  west  of  nortli  11  mih's  througli  th(j  west  part  of 
Sees.  17,  8,  and  5,  in  tliis  township,  Sees.  ;;2,  L'<),  20,  17,  S,  and  5,  T. 
157,  K.  r)(;,  and  Die  east  e<igo  of  Sees.  ;>1  and  .'iO,  T.  158,  Jt.  50.  For 
the  next  3  miles,  in  the  east  edge  of  Sees.  1!»,  IS,  and  7,  T.  158,  J{.  5(5, 
it  runs  ncarlv  due  noitii.  Thenco  it  turns  to  a  noithwesterly  conrs(i 
througli  See.  (>  of  this  township,  passing  a  mih'  west  of  JC.«liid»urgh 
post  olliec  and  through  See.  31,  T.  15!>,  II.  5(J.  In  this  vicinity  the 
(lolden  Valley  terminates. 

ISushes  and  tre<\s  clothe  the  sloi)e  on  the  west  side  of  the  (lolden 
Valley  along  its  northern  pait,  extending  to  the  south  line  of  T.  158,  l{. 
50;  but  this  ascent  farther  souMi,  also  the  entire  extent  of  the  (lolden 
Valley,  the  drift  hills  l\)rming  its  east  border,  and  the  vast  i>lain  of  the 
Med  Kiver  Valley,  are  prairi",  exctepting  that  narrow  belts  of  timber 
border  the  water  courses. 

Smoothly  undulating  till  i-ises  slowly  from  the  west  side  of  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  (lolden  V  !lle.\  ;  but  in  See.  30,  T.  158,  lt.5(>,rounded  hills 
t)f  till  attain  a  height  about  AH)  feet  above  the  valley,  or  1 ,300  feet  above 
the  sea.  ThiMiee  northward  a  smooth  sloi)e  ascends  50  to  <iO  feet,  or  in 
some  portions  only  30  or  to  feet,  within  the  first  (juarter  or  half  of  a 
mile  to  the  west,  succeedi'd  bcyoml  by  a  moderately  rolling  surface  with 
less  ascent. 

A  terrace  of  beaeh  sand  and  gravel,  containing  i)ebbles  and  cobbles 
up  to  G  inches  in  diameter,  extends  a  thiid  of  a  mile  from  southeast  to 
northwest,  with  a  width  of  5  to  30  rods,  in  the  XW.  \  of  Sci;.  3;},  T.  158, 
It.  50,  abutting  on  the  west  Hank  of  the  lolling  and  hilly  deposits  of  till 
which  make  the  east  border  of  the  (lolden  Valley.  It  was  ibrmed  by 
currents  entering  this  strait  of  Lake  Agassi/,  from  the  north,  eroding  the 
bordering  hills  in  the  east  edge  of  Sees.  20  and  20,  and  thence  sweeping 
this  sand  and  gravel  southward.  It  marks  the  highe.-.t  stage  of  Lake 
Agassi/,  having  an  elevatu)n  of  1,213  to  1,105  feet,  declining  from  north 
to  south,  and  also  sinking  1  or  2  feet  from  west  to  east  in  its  width  of 
100  to  500  feet,  being  thus  slightly  higher  along  its  verge  than  where  it 
rests  ui)on  the  adjoining  hilly  till. 

Natural  surface  at  thc!  quarter-section  slake  on  the  east  side  of  Sec. 
S,  T.  158, 11.  oH,  1,203  feet;  at  Edinburgh  post  oilice,  near  the  center  of 
Sec.  5, 1,202  feet. 

Aliddle  Branch  of  Pari:  Kiver  a  half  mile  south  of  Edinburgh,  ap[)roxi- 

.  iiiately,  1,185  feet;  crest  of  the  south  bank  of  the  very  small  valley  of 

this  stream,  rising  to  the  flat  Golden  Valley,  1,192  feet  on  the  east  to 

(449) 


64 


UPPER    HKACHES   01''   LAKE   AGASSI/. 


I  HULL.  30. 


1,215  feet  on  the  west.  The  Golden  Valley  here  shows  thus  ii  tnitis- 
verse  ascent  of  more  than  20  feet  in  its  width  of  about  1  mile.  On  the 
north  line  of  Sees.  5  and  C,  T.  158, 11  50,  the  east  edge  of  this  valley  has 
an  elevation  of  1,210  feet,  ami  its  west  edge,  1,220  feeb.  About  a  half 
mile  farther  north,  the  height  of  this  belt,  where  it  is  crossed  by  a  tribu 
tary  of  the  Middle  Branch,  is  1,220  to  1,235  feet,  from  east  to  west,  being 
thus  above  the  highest  level  of  Lake  Agassiz.  Elevation  of  tiiis  tribu- 
tary at  a  bridge  of  a  road  that  runs  very  crookedly  through  bushes  and 
small  woods  in  Sec.  32,  T.  150,  U.  50,  1,201  feetj  and  at  a  bridge  a  few 
rods  north  of  the  middle  of  the  east  side  of  Sec.  20,  1,175  feet. 

BEACHES  AND  ISLANDS  EAST  OP  THE  ELK  AND   GOLDEN  VALLEYS. 

Eeturning  about  15  miles  south  to  Larimore,  we  have  yet  to  describe 
the  beaches  of  Lake  Agassiz  and  its  islands  of  rolling  and  hilly  till 
which  divided  the  strait  of  the  Elk  ami  Golden  Valleys  in  Grand  Forks 
and  Walsh  Counties  from  the  main  body  of  this  glacial  lake. 

Saint  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Manitoba  Eailway  track  at  Larimore, 
1,131  feet  above  the  sea.  | 

The  upper  or  first  and  the  second  Herman  beaches  before  described, 
respectively  4|  and  li  miles  west  of  Larimore,  are  1,102  and  1,140  feet 
above  the  sea.    Third  Herman  beach,  a  third  of  a  mile  east  of  Larimore 
depot,  crest,  1,133  feet;  another  beach  belonging  to  the  same  stage  of    s 
Lake  Agassiz,  a  third  of  a  mile  farther  east,  crest,  1,131  feet,  with  de-    i 
scent  in  thirty  or  forty  rods  east  11  feet,  and  in  the  same  distance  west   I 
9  feet.    Fourth  Herman  beach,  consisting  of  four  small  beach  ridges   ? 
crossed  by  the  railway  l._V  to  2  miles  east  of  Larimore,  crests,  1,123  | 
to  1,118  feet,  with  intervening  hollows  3  to  5  feet  deep.    A  nearly  level  $ 
tract  reaches  1  miles  westward  from  Lariiiu)re  along  the  railway  to 
Devil's  Lake,  averaging  1,130  feet  and  varying  only  2  or  3  feet  above 
and  below  this  level.    Beneath  the  rich  black  soil  here  and  elsevdiere, 
all  about  Larimore,  are  15tTattftT?rt  sand  aiid  fine  silt  free  from  gravel. 
The  beach  ridges  near  this  town  are  consequently  composed  wholly  of] 
sand,  quite  in  contrast  with  their  usually  coarser  material.  • 

Well  at  the  Sherman  House,  Larimore,  L.  C.  Neal,  proprietor,  dugl 
20  feet  and  bored  40  feet  lower:  soil,  2  feet;  fine  sandy  and  clayey  silt, 
without  coarse  sand,  gravel,  or  stones,  5  feet;  flue  yellowish  sand, 
with  less  clay,  being  mainly  siliceous,  13  feet;  and  dark  snnd,  very  soft 
to  bore  through,  two-thirds  cretaceous  shale  in  particles  up  to  a  twen- 
tieth of  an  inch  in  diameter,  40  feet,  with  much  water.  Hard  blue  till 
was  found  at  the  bottom.  This  is  the  deepest  well  in  tTuTtJJTTfr.  All 
^Tlio'^ather  wells  arc  said  to  obtain  their  supply  of  water  at  a  depth  of 
about  20  feet,  in  the  upper  part  of  this  sand  chiefly  derived  from  shale* 
The  origin  and  manner  of  deposition  of  these  beds  of  sand  and  silt  de* 
servo  further  observations  and  study.  ^ 

(450)  I 


Lowe 
Sec.  21 
on  its  w 
12  and 
Ncctiom: 
others 
the  cenl 
line  gra 
purt  of  i 
U,  T.  1/ 
feet,  wit 
Jibout  5 
through 
^•ivel  top 
10  or  15 


UI'IIAM.j 


HERMAN    I5EACU    IN    DAKOTA. 


,39. 
US 

tb  I'- 
ll as 
iialf 
ibii- 

'ibii- 
i  and 
I  few 


liLYS. 

scribe 
ly  till 
Forks 

•iiuore, 

cribeil, 
l4G  ieet 
iiriiuore 
itage  of 
.vitU  de- 
icc  west 
L  ridges 

■ly  level 
I  way  to 
t  above 

_ewberi!» 
li  gravel, 
.vliolly  of| 

kitor,  dug| 
Lycy  siU,1 
Ish  .saud, 
I  very  soft 
io  a  tweii- 

blue  tiU^ 
in    A^ 

depth  ot 
loiii  filiale*; 
lid  silt  d«i* 


05 


The  beach  seen  two-thirds  of  a  mile  east  of  Lariinore  i>as.ses  nortli  and 
uorth-iiorthwesterly  throiigli  the  easfc  half  of  yecs.  7  uud  (J,  T.  15J,  It. 
51,  aud  the  west  half  of  Sees.  31  and  30,  T.  152,  It.  51,  into  the  southeast 
corner  of  Sec.  21,  T.  152,  It.  55.  North  of  the  South  Branch  of  Turtle 
Itiver  it  is  not  a  typical  ridge,  but  a  series  of  massive  rounded  swells 
of  sand  10  to  15  feet  high,  with  their  crests  at  1,135  to  1,110  feet. 

A  parallel  beach  ridge  a  third  to  a  half  mile  west  of  the  foregoing, 
mostly  massive,  with  typical  wavelike  form,  Juis  an  elevation  of  1,133 
feet  close  east  of  Larimore ;  1,111  feet  at  a  cemetery  close  north  of  the 
South  Branch  of  Turtle  Itiver  in  or  near  the  south w^est  corner  of  Sec.  31, 
T.  152,  It.  51;  chiefly  1,137  to  1,110  feet  in  its  course  thence  north-north- 
westerly through  Sees.  3G  and  25,  the  west  edge  of  Sec.  21,  and  the  east 
half  of  See.  11,  T.  152,  R.  55 ;  1,112  to  1,115  feet  in  the  west  half  of  Sec. 
11  and  1,113  to  1,117  feet  in  tLe  east  edge  of  Sec.  3  of  this  township. 
Along  the  west  edge  of  Sec.  11,  a  du])licationof  this  beach  ridge,  of  the 
same  massive  size,  lying  a  half  mile  farther  Avest,  extends  a  mile  south 
from  the  North  Branch  of  Turtle  Itiver,  its  crest  being  at  1,142  to  1,U5 
feet;  but  thence  southward  the  general  elevation  is  about  1,130  feet  to 
the  tract  of  this  height  crossed  by  the  railway  west  of  Lariujore,  except- 
ing that  the  South  Branch  of  Turtle  Itiver  has  eroded  a  valley  10  to  75 
feet  deep.  The  distance  of  one  aiul  a  half  miles  from  Larimore  north  to 
this  stream  is  a  gradually  descending  smooth  slope,  but  its  northern 
bluff  rises  steeply  to  a  height  a  few  feet  above  tliat  of  Larinuire. 

North  Branch  of  Turtle  Jtiver  in  the  north  half  of  See.  11,  T.  152,  It. 
55,  1,085  to  1,075  feet;  bottomland,  an  eighth  of  a  mile  wide,  10  to  15 
feet  above  the  stream;  crest  of  bluffs  a  quarter  to  a  third  of  a  mile  apart, 
about  1,135  feet. 

Saint  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Manitoba  Itaibvay  at  McCanna,  l,lfO 
feet;  on  l)ridge  over  the  North  Branch  of  Turtle  Itiver,  J  ,132  feet,  17  feet 
above  the  stream  ;  summit,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  See.  22,  T.  153,  It. 
55,  grade  and  natural  surface,  1,101  feet;  Orr,  1,1>'J8  ieet. 

Lower  Ilerman  beach,  running  northwesterly  in  the  northeast  part  of 
Sec.  21,  T.  152,  B.  55,  1,127  to  1,128  feet,  with  depression  of  2  to  3  feet 
on  its  west  side;  in  Sec.  13,  1,127  to  1,132  feet;  in  the  west  part  of  Sec. 
12  and  the  northeast  part  of  Sec.  11,  1,130  to  1,135  feet,  being  in  these 
sections  the  easternmost  in  a  succession  of  three  beach  ridges,  the  two 
others  of  which  arc  10  feet  higher;  at  E.  C  1>.  Shortridge's  house,  in 
the  center  of  Sec.  2, 1,137  feet,  forming  a  broad  ilat  swell  of  sand  and 
line  gravel,  with  a  depression  of  3  to  5  feet  on  its  west  side ;  in  the  west 
part  of  See.  3G,  through  Sees.  20  ami  23,  and  the  southwest  edge  of  Sec. 
14,  T.  153,  It.  55,  a  continuous,  well  defined  beach  ridge,  1,140  to  1,149 
feet,  with  a  descent  of  10  to  15  feet  on  tlie  east  and  a  depression  of 
about  5  feet  on  the  west;  in  the  east  edge  of  the  NE.  \  of  Sec.  15  and 
through  the  SE.  ^  of  Sec.  10,  a  deposi  t  of  sand  and  fine  gravel,  w  ith  nearly 
level  top  20  to  30  rods  wide,  1,145  to  1,11!)  feet,  from  which  a  slope  falls 
10  or  15  feet  in  20  to  30  rods  isastward,  while  on  the  west  it  is  bordered 

Bull.  39 5  (451) 


66 


UPPEK    HEACHES    OF    LAKE    AGASSIZ. 


[BULL.  39. 


by  ji  slough  5  to  !20  rods  wide,  which  is  partly  permanent  water  anil 
l»artly  mowing  land.  It  i.s  to  be  noted  that  the  northern  two-thirds  of 
the  beach  here  described  for  a  di.stance  of  8  miles  corresponds  in  eleva- 
tion with  the  two  beaches  close  east  of  Larimore  and  their  continuation 
northward  to  the  North  Branch  of  Turtle  Itiver,  marking  the  third  Her 
man  stage  of  Lake  Agassiz ;  but  that  the  soutliern  part  records  aslighlly 
lower  level  of  the  lake,  when  it  had  fallen  about  10  feet,  or  to  its  fourth 
Herman  stage. 

On  tlie  west  side  of  this  beach  a  smoothly  undulating  broad  swell  of 
till,  which  was  an  island  in  Lake  Agassiz,  lies  in  the  west  part  of  Sec. 
i;  and  the  east  edge  of  Sec.  27,  T.  lo3,  K.  55,  with  nearly  level  top 
oi"  several  acres,  at  1,182  to  1,190  feet.  An  aboriginal  burial  mound, 
raised  1  feet  and  50  feet  ;icross,  is  situated  on  the  highest  part  of  this 
area,  15  rods  east  northeast  from  the  (piarter-section  stake  between 
thesc'Sections.  Such  localities,  overlooking  an  extensive  and  beautiful 
panorama,  were  freipiently  chosen  for  this  use,  as  is  shown  by  many 
mounds  on  hilltops  and  on  the  margin  of  bluifs  bordering  deeply  eroded 
\allevs  throuQliont  the  Northwest.  A  lower  tract  of  somewhat  rouahlv 
rolling  till,  with  plentiful  bowlders,  reaches  a  third  of  a  mile  south- 
easterly from  this  swell  to  the  south  edge  of  Sec.  20.  Thence  a  broad 
ridge  of  beach  gravel  and  sand,  belonging  to  the  second  ami  third  Her- 
man stages  of  Lake  Agassiz,  with  an  elevation  of  1,15;>  to  1,151  feet, 
sinking  southward  to  1,115  feet,  extends  south-southeasterly  through 
the  east  half  of  Sec.  .'35  and  continues  with  the  same  course  to  Larimore, 
as  beibre  described. 

North  of  this  island  the  u[>per  Herman  beach  is  represented  in  the 
east  part  of  the  SE.  {  of  Sec.  22  and  in  the  west  half  of  the  S  W.  j  of  Sec. 
23,  T.  153,  E.  55,  by  a  wide  tract  of  gravel  and  sand  de[»osits,  in  irreg- 
ular ridges  and  swells  rising  4  to  8  feet,  mostly  trending  irom  north 
to  south,  with  their  crests  at  1,101:  to  1,170  feet.  Next  to  the  north  it 
is  a  well  defined  beaijh  ridge,  with  crest  rising  from  1,103  to  1,108  feet 
in  its  course  of  a  half  mile  from  south  to  north  through  the  east  edge  of 
the  NE.  :[  of  Sec.  22. 

In  the  SE.  [  of  Sec.  15,  T.  153,  U.  55,  the  plain  that  descends  slowly 
toward  the  lied  liivcr  on  the  east  is  diviiled  from  the  Elk  Valhiy  on 
the  west  by  a  low  swell  of  till,  having  an  elevation  of  1,157  to  1,100 
feet,  destitute  of  beach  deposits.  This  is  succeeded  in  the  north  part 
of  this  section  and  the  south  part  of  S('(;.  10  by  a  second  island  which 
rose  above  the  highest  level  of  the  glacial  lake,  having  a  length  of  1 
mile  from  south  to  north  and  averaging  a  quarter  of  ti  mile  wide,  its 
elevation  in  the  SVV.  .^j;  of  the  NE.  jof  Sec.  15  being  about  1,187  feet,  on 
the  line  between  these  sections  about  1,175  feet,  and  near  the  center  of 
Sec.  10,  at  the  north  end  of  this  irregular  ridge,  about  1,180  feet.  Its 
material  is  till,  partially  overspread  in  its  south  half  by  gravel,  which 
seems  to  have  been  brought  by  the  currents  and  waves  of  Lake  Agassi/ 
from  the  erosiou  of  its  northern  portion. 

(152) 


i 


on 

am 

I  thh 

acci 

foui 

edg< 

teriji 

thro 

itsk 

The 

next 

caste 

3,110 

a  trai, 

.  ^M 

from 
the  c( 
Mie  so 
uneve 
Sees.  1 
«ummi 
summ 
round 
about 
<i'nt,  ail 
feet, 
at  1,15; 
fine  gr; 
throi 

In  tU 
tions  of 
above 
islaml 
winks  w 
to  a  bro 
5  of  this 
valley  a 


UPHAH.] 


HEliMAN    BEACJI    IN   DAKOTA. 


67 


slowly 

|Ucy  oil 
Lo  1,100 

[til  l>i>i't 
\\  which 
tth  of  1 
,ide,  its 
feet,  on 
lenter  of 
ict.    Its 
[l,  whicl* 
1  Agassi^' 


The  beaiih  of  L:ike  Agussiz  during-  its  liishcst  stiigo  extends  north 
from  the  north  end  of  this  island  into  the  SW.  ^  of  Sec.  .'3,  T.  1.53,  It.  55, 
where  it  is  Ji  ridge  about  20  rods  wide,  with  an  elevation  of  1,105  to  1,172 
feet,  composed  of  coarse  gravel  and  sand,  inclosing  phiutiful  rock  frag- 
ments, chieily  granitic,  of  all  sizes  up  to  G  inches  in  diameter,  most  of 
whicli  are  only  slightly  water-worn.  Its  eastern  slope  descends  15  to 
20  feet  in  as  many  rods,  and  on  the  west  an  equal  descent  takes  place 
within  8  or  10  rods.  The  steep  western  slope  of  this  beach  or  bar,  form- 
ing the  east  rim  of  the  strait  that  iilled  the  Elk  Valley,  was  due  to  storms 
on  the  broad  lake,  rolling  its  waves  upon  the  bar  and  carrying  the  sand 
and  coarse  gravel  upward  and  over  its  crest.  Turning  northwestward, 
this  beach  pai,c.s  into  the  NE.  ^  of  Sec.  4,  where  it  consists  of  irregular 
accumulations  o^f  gravel  find  sand,  occui)yiiig  a  width  of  an  eighth  to  a 
fourth  of  amilp;"wiili  their  crests  aTl, 155  to  1,102  feet.  In  the  north 
edge  of  Sec.  1  it  again  becomes  a  delinite  beach  ridge  of  the  same  ma- 
terial and  contour  as  in  Sec.  3,  and  thus  passes  northeast  and  north 
through  See.  33,  T.  15-1, 11. 55,  with  its  crest  mostly  at  1,105  to  1,172  feet, 
its  lowest  part,  about  1,102  feet,  being  near  the  center  of  this  section. 
The  two  islands  before  described,  this  beaeh  or  bar,  and  the  long  island 
next  northward  arc  together  commonly  callei^  "The  Itidge,"  being  the 
eastern  limit  of  the  Elk  Valley,  which  averages  4  miles  wide,  1,150  to 
1 ,140  feet  above  the  sea,  in  its  eastern  and  central  portions,  but  rising  with 
a  transverse  slope  to  1,100  feet  on  its  western  border. 

A  third  island  above  the  highest  stage  of  Lake  Agassiz,  3  njilesloug 
from  south  to  north  and  a  (piarter  to  a  half  mile  wide,  reaches  through 
the  central  part  of  Sees.  28  aiul  21,  the  west  half  of  Sec.  10,  and  into 
the  southwest  corner  of  Sec.  9,  T.  154,  11.  55.  It  is  till,  with  somewhat 
uneven  surface,  bearing  fro((uent  bowlders.  Iligheso  points  of  this  in 
Sees.  28  and  21,  1,185  to  1,105  feet;  intervening  gaps,  about  1,170  feet; 
aunuuit,  near  the  center  of  tlie  SW.  ^  of  Sec.  18,  1,223  feet,  and  lower 
summit,  about  a  half  mile  to  the  north,  1,218  feet,  eacli  bearing  a  Hat 
round  earthwork  about  1  foot  higher;  lowest  depressions  intervening, 
about  1,195  feet;  depressions  in  the  northwest  part  of  Sec.  10,  1,185 
feut,  and  highest  points  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Sec.  9, 1,194  and  1,195 
feet.  Beach  deposits  occur  on  the  cast  Haidi  of  this  island  ri  Sec.  21 
at  1,155  to  1,105  feet,  and  from  1,155  feet  a  smooth  slope  of  sand  and 
fine  gravel  falls  slowly  eastward  along  the  east  side  of  this  highland 
through  the  greater  part  of  its  extent. 

In  the  southeast  i>art  of  Sec.  8,  T.  154,  11.  55,  irregular  accumula- 
tions of  beach  gravel,  with  crests  at  1,170  to  1,175  feet,  10  to  15  feet 
above  the  adjoining  depressions  of  till,  extend  northward  from  the 
island  just  described;  ami  in  the  north  part  of  this  Sec.  8  the  beach 
siidis  within  an  eighth  of  a  mile  from  1,172  to  1,101  feet  and  changes 
to  a  broad,  smooth  ridge,  wMiich  thence)  passes  northward  through  Sec. 
5  of  this  township,  in  which  it  is  intersected  by  the  Forest  liiver,  with 
valley  a  half  niilo  wide  and  00  to  75  feet  deep,  and  through  tUo  west 

(453) 


68 


IJPPEK    BEACHES    UF    LAKE    AliAWSlZ. 


I  BULL.  30. 


Iialf  of  Sec.  32,  T.  155,  11.  55,  near  tLo  center  of  which  it  htis  three 
iiboriginal  mouiuls  on  its  top.  The  material  of  this  beach  ridgo  is  line 
j^ravel  and  sand.  Elevation  of  its  crest  on  the  line  between  Sees.  8  and 
5, 30  to  40  rods  east  of  the  qnarter-section  stake,  1,1(51  feet j  an  eightii 
of  a  uiilo  north,  at  the  verjjo  of  the  south  blulf  of  Forest  River,  1,155 
feet;  for  the  first  half  njile  from  the  l)liilF north  of  this  river,  1,152  to 
1,157  ieet;  and  at  the  mounds  in  Sec.  32,  1,150  to  1,159  feet.  These 
mounds  lie  in  a  line  bearinjj  north-northeast;  top  of  most  southerly 
mound,  1,102  feet,  about  0  feet  above  the  adjacent  j;round;  elevation  of 
the  middle  one,  some  20  rods  away,  1,106  feet,  and  of  the  most  northern, 
again  about  20  rods  from  the  last,  1,107  feot,  each  being  8  feet  higher 
than  its  base. 

Another  beach  ridge,  20  rods  wide,  with  descent  of  10  feet  on  each 
side  in  as  many  rods,  formed  during  the  same  stage  of  Lake  Agassiz, 
lies  a  half  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  from  the  foregoing,  in  thoNE.  ,| 
of  Soc.  <i,  T.  151,  It.  55.  This  is  the  highest  land  between  the  main 
Forest  llivcr  and  its  South  Braiuth.  It  consists  of  sand  and  fine  gravel, 
of  which  a  considerable  proportion  (about  a  sixth)  is  cretaceous  shale. 
The  nuixinuim  elevation  of  this  ridge,  1,157  to  1,101  feet,  is  maintained 
for  50  or  00  rods,  from  which  it  sinks  to  1,150  feet  at  each  end. 

From  the  north  side  of  Sec.  32,  T.  155, 11.  55,  an  island  of  rolling  ami 
hilly  till  above  the  highest  level  of  Lake  Agassiz,  far  larger  than  any 
of  those  already  described,  extends,  with  the  exceiition  of  two  short 
gaps,  20  miles  northward,  varying  in  width  from  a  halt  mile  to  a  little 
moie  than  1  mile  in  its  southern  ([uarler  and  from  lA  to  2i  miles  through 
the  remainder  of  its  extent.  This  hilly  tract,  commonly  denominated 
"the  nu:)untains,"  forms  the  east  border  of  the  (iolden  Valley.  In  the 
north  part  of  Sec.  30,  T.  150,  li.  50,  it  has  a  depression  to  about  1,180 
feet,  which  probably  was  a  strait  of  the  ghmial  lake  in  its  highest  stage, 
an  I'ighth  of  a  mile  wide  and  a  few  feet  deep.  Again,  in  the  center  of 
T.  157,  li.  50  (Garfield),  it  is  iiiters(!Cted  by  the  South  Branch  of  Park 
Iviver,  which  has  a  valley  a  (luurter  to  a  half  of  a  mile  wide  and  about 
75  feet  deep.  The  stream,  in  its  course  of  Ik  miles  through  this  belt, 
dcs<;ends  about  50  feet,  from  1,105  to  1,115  feet,  apijroxiniately.  It 
seems  almost  certain  that  a  depression  slightly  lower  than  the  Golden 
Valley  on  the  west  originally  extended  across  this  rolling  and  hilly  area 
wlieie  it  is  cut  by  this  South  IJranch  of  Paik  Iliver;  but  the  erosion 
of  its  valley  has  undeiinined  and  removed  portions  of  adjoining  hills 
and  ridges,  so  that  its  inclosing  blulfs  now  rise  50  to  100  feet,  their  high- 
est points  being  about  1,225  feet  above  the  sea,  or  25  to  30  feet  above 
the  east  edge  of  the  Golden  Valley.  All  these  bluffs  and  two  plateaus 
left  in  the  midst  of  the  valley  are  till,  yellowish  near  the  toj)  and  dark 
bluish  below. 

Elevation  of  "the  nu)nntains"  in  their  southern  ami  narrower  portion, 
through  the  west  part  of  T.  155,  If.  55,  and  the  northeast  corner  of  T, 

(154) 


* 


J 

1 

a 

I^ 

nj 

so 

be 

7i 

po.' 

ext 

thii. 

o  U 

lowi 

T.l. 

tin,  ^ 

the  . 
ftJ'os.s 
1,17.5 
In, 
area  ] 
ItH  un, 
distinc 
sIoi)e, 
<Iescen 
;         except 
i         I'orls 
formt 
'iirtJie 
•"^O  rods 
of  coar 
<leacen 
''them 
tlie  SE. 
'"lately 
"•eeast 

^^^^^^  .{■  o 

deveIo])e 

<'Ievatioi 

'"«•  north 

^<>  1,170  i; 

"'>t  very 

Ixitwecn 

«imd,  wit] 

falls  1 ,),.  « 


ea 


\ 


\  UPHAH.^ 


HERMAN    liKACII    IN    DAKOTA. 


(Id 


liitetl       I 
111  the       I 

1,180     ^: 

iter  of 
Park 
liibtmt 
\)eU, 

.'•    It 
Irosiou 

,  a\)0vc 
jatciiuH 

lovtU)"i 
Ir  of  T. 


Lj5,  R.  50, 1,190  to  1,225  feet;  throno-h  tlie  east  half  of  T.  laO,  K.  f.O, 
1,200  to  1,250  feet;  iii  the  south  part  of  T.  157,  It.  5(;,  1,200  to  1,200  feet ; 
and  through  the  north  half  of  this  towiushii>  and  the  south  half  of  T.  158, 
11.  50,  1,200  to  1,275  feet,  being  highch,t  in  Sec.  28  of  the  townshi{)  last 
named,  near  the  northern  end  of  this  hilly  tract. 

The  east  border  of  "the  mountains"  in  Sc(!.  20,  T.  155,  11.  55,  folia 
somewhat  steeply  to  about  1,1.j5  feet,  and  thonco  a  Hat  slope,  with  no 
beach  ridges,  sinks  slowly  eastward.  In  the  N\V.  ,|  oC  the  NE.  J  of  Sec;. 
7  in  this  township  a  wclldeCncd  beach  ridge  10  to  15  rods  wi<lc,  com- 
posed of  saiul  and  gravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  2  or  3  inches  in  diameter, 
extends  25  rods  south  from  au  eastern  si»nr  of  the  hilly  till ;  crest  of 
this  spur,  about  1,1C5  feet;  of  iho  leach,  J, 172  feet,  with  depression  of 
o  to  G  feet  on  the  west.  Irregular  beach  accunudntions,  10  to  20  feet 
lower,  continuo  southward  nearly  a  half  mile.  The  cast  ludfof  Sec.  G, 
T.  155,  K.  50,  has  a  descent  of  nearly  100  feet  to  about  1,100  feet.  It  is 
till,  with  no  noteworthy  beach  dejiosils.  No  stream  has  llowed  through 
the  depression  in  Sec.  oG,  T.  150,  It.  50,  and  no  considerable  watercourse 
crosses  the  gentle  slope  of  till,  ov(!rsi)r('ad  with  much  beach  gravel  at 
1,175  to  1,155  feet,  which  lies  witliii)  tlie  next  milo  east. 

In  Sec.  30,  T.  150, 11.  50,  the  eastern  bolder  of  this  rolling  and  hilly 
area  falls  75  feet  or  inoro  within  a  third  of  a  mile,  to  about  1,100  feet. 
Its  material  is  till,  with  scanty  deposits  of  beach  gravel  and  sand,  not 
distinctly  accumulated  in  ridged  form.  About  half  way  down  this 
slope,  it  shows  in  some  places  a  more  abrupt  escarpment,  with  steep 
descent  of  15  or  20  i\>vA.  The  same  features  continues  through  Sec.  19, 
except  that  a  series  of  distinct  beach  deposits  is  observable  about  25 
rods  east  from  the  crest  of  the  slope,  at  1,170  to  1,175  feet,  probably 
formed  during  the  second  Herman  stage  ot  Lake  Agassiz.  A.  little 
farther  north,  the  upper  Herman  beach  is  probably  represented,  15  to 
30  rods  north-northeast  from  tUe  southwest  corner  of  Se('.  18,  in  a  bank 
of  coarse  gravel  at  1,182  feet,  with  a  small  ('(nd(''e  on  ils  west  side.  A 
dcacent  ot  125  feet  takes  i)laco  within  a  half  mile  on  the  east  side  of 
"the  mountains,"  near  where  it  is  cut  by  a  large  but  slnut  ravine,  in 
the  SE.  ^  of  Sec.  12,  T.  15G,  11.  5(1,  falling  from  1,180  to  1,050  fec^t,  ai)prox. 
bnately,  with  no  well  marked  shore  lines  observable.  A  grove  Vw.h  at 
the  east  base  of  this  sh)pe  a  third  of  a  mile  soutli  of  the  raviue.  In  the 
NW.  \  of  this  Sec.  12  and  the  west  edge  of  the  SW.  \  of  Sec.  1,  a  well 
developed  beach,  in  part  consisting  of  two  parallel  low  ridg<'s,  has  an 
elevation  ot  1,170  to  1,177  feet;  and  in  tln^  east  edge  of  Sec.  2,  continu- 
ing northward,  its  elevation  is  1,177  to  1,181  feet.  Its  eastern  slope  falls 
to  1,170  feet  within  10  or  20  rods.  Through  Sec.  .".(J,  T.  157,  U.  50,  it  is 
not  very  distin<it;  but  10  to  25  rods  north  from  tli'^  <piarle.r  section  stake 
between  Sees.  30  and  25  it  is  j-epresented  by  a.  in-oad  bank  of  gravel  and 
sand,  with  crest  at  1,187  to  l,19l>  fe«'t,  from  which  a  slight  depression 
falls  1  or  2  feet  on  the  west. 

(155) 


70 


IIPPET^    BEACHES    OF   LAKE   AGASSIZ. 


t  nuix.  39. 


V\ 


Saint  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Manitoba  Railway  track  at  Park  River 
depot,  098  feet;  natural  surface  at  the  soutbeast  corner  of  Sec.  23,  T. 
157,  R.  50,  on  tlie  road  from  Park  River  to  Garfield,  1,178  feet. 

Crest  of  tlie  upper  Herman  beach  crossed  by  this  road  10  rods  west 
from  the  point  named,  1,1S7  feet ;  same  20  rods  southeast  and  northwest 
from  the  road,  1,192  feet;  depression  on  the  west  3  to  8  feet  and  descent 
on  the  east  10  to  15  feet  in  as  many  rods.  This  is  a  typical  beach  ridfto 
of  sand  and  gravel,  with  pebbles  up  to  2  or  3  inches  in  diameter,  mostly 
limestone  and  granite.  The  cretaceous  shale  before  mentioned  is  very 
rare  in  the  till  of  "the  mountains"  and  in  the  beaches  formed  along 
their  cast  sido^  indicating  that  the  east  limit  of  this  shale  is  the  Pem- 
bina Mountain  and  the  western  ascent  of  the  Golden  Valley,  and  that 
the  glacial  currents  by  which  the  drift  here  was  deiiosited  came  only 
from  the  north  and  northeast,  with  no  intermixture  of  currents  from 
west  of  north. 

Highest  beach  on  verge  of  south  bluff  of  the  South  Branch  of  Park 
River,  in  the  SE.  ^  of  Sec.  23,  T.  157,  R.  50,  1,188  to  1,192  feet,  with  a 
basin  shaped  hollow  on  its  west  side  20  feet  lower,  which  changes  south- 
ward to  a  ileprcssion  of  about  5  feet.  The  river  bluff  is  here  freshly 
undermined,  showing  the  depth  of  the  beach  sand  and  gravel  to  bo  5  to 
10  feet,  lying  on  till.  Lower  beach,  a  quarter  of  a  U'ile  farther  east,  ex- 
tending from  northwest  to  southeast,  in  the  SW.  ^  of  Sec.  21,  1,107  to 
1,170  feet. 

Lower  nerman  beach,  a  massive  ridge  of  gravel  and  sand,  extending 
in  a  curved  course  convex  toward  the  cast  from  the  N^E.  ^  of  Sec.  2,  T. 
157,  R.  50,  througli  the  southeast  part  of  Sec.  35,  T.  158,  R.  50,  crest, 
1,100  to  1,105  feet;  through  the  northeast  edge  of  Sec.  30  and  the  south- 
west corner  of  Sec.  25,  40  to  50  rods  wide,  with  slightly  undulating  swr- 
face,  1,100  to  1,107  feet ;  near  the  middle  of  the  east  side  of  the  SB.  ^  of 
Sec.  20,1,105  to  1,100  feet;  and  at  the  quarter-section  stake  on  the  north 
side  of  this  Sec.  20,  1,103  feet. 

ISTenr  the  west  line  of  Sec.  23,  T.  158,  R,  50,  two  Herman  beaches  abut 
upon  the  east  flank  of  the  north  end  of  "the  mountains,"  ami  extend 
thence  north-northwesterly  2  miles  to  the  Middle  Branch  of  Park  River.  J 
The  eastern  one,  a  well  defined  ridge  of  sand  and  fine  gravel,  passes  | 
close  west  of  the  quaL-ter-section  stalce  between  Sees.  15  and  10.    Tlie  | 
elevation  of  its  crest  is  1.101  to  1,100  feet,  with  increase  in  height  from  f 
south  to  north ;  the  descent  on  the  east  is  15  or  20  feet  in  as  many  rods,  I 
and  the  depression  on  the  west  is  3  to  8  feet  deep  and  10  rods  wi(h>.i 
The  other  beach  ridge  is  40  or  50  rods  farther  west,  parallel  with  tlu^'     to  .30  feet  v 
preceding  and  similar  in  form  and  material ;  its  crest,  rising  slight],\'|     highest  n 
northward,  is  at  1,173  to  1,170  feet.    Anotlur  distinct  beach  ridge,  Imf    1,211  feet 
of  smaller  size,  runs  in  a  parallel  course  through  the  east  part  of  tlnl'    feet,  parani 
SW.  \  of  Sec.  9,  with  its  crest  at  1,185  to  1,187  feet.    These  appear  t|    this  an  nmi 
represent  in  succession  the  fourtli,  third,  and  secjond  Herman  beachef    trees,  rises 

(450)  I    i^'e  swells  t 


ai 

ail 

15{ 

l)el 

risi 

•sJof 

tU]o 

1,20 

of  tl 

heac 

and  ( 

till,  I 

8;  ab( 

rods  i 

Con 

beacli 

^est  21 

the  ea.< 

toward 

^iU,  wh] 

to  7,225 
\'alley.  i 

<I'arnete 
<Jer  are 
<^^i'ous  sh 
vati()7i  0 
south  we; 
1,202  to; 
"iJIc  thro 
teet  lowe 
hlOStol 
from  the 

and  roek 
"I  dianietf 
Sec.  20,  t] 
f*^et;  ill  thi 


UrHAM.] 


HERMAN   BEACH   IN   DAKOTA. 


71 


ijv  8«r. 


li  aV)ut 

River, 
I  pas8e8 
The 
lit  from 


of  t^^ 
pwir  t 


of  tho  series  observed  northwest  of  ]\Iaplo  Lake  in  IVIinnesota  and  east 
and  west  of  Larimore. 

Upper  Herman  beach,  northward  from  the  north  end  of  "tho  mount- 
ains," forming  i\\  the  NW.  J  of  Sec.  21  and  tho  west  part  of  Sec.  10,  T. 
158,  K.  oO,  a  massive,  broad  rid<?o,  composed  of  sand  and  gravel,  with 
pebbles  up  to  4  or  oven  G  inches  in  diameter,  crest,  1,197  to  1,207  feet, 
rising  highest  northward,  where  the  beach  deposit  overlies  the  eastern 
slope  of  a  waveliko  swell  of  till  that  rises  to  1,212  feet.  Small  beach 
ridge,  belonging  to  this  stage,  in  the  east  edge  of  the  SR.  .[  ot  Sec.  S, 
1,202  to  1,207  feet.  Surface  at  Evan  Edwards's  house,  iu  the  west  part 
of  the  S\V.  \  of  Sec.  0, 1,197  feet,  cosisisting  of  saiul  and  gravel  of  this 
beach  to  a  depth  of  10  feet,  underlaid  by  till,  yellowish  in  its  first  (>  feet 
and  dark  bluish  below.  Summit  of  a  smoothly  rounded  hillock,  probably 
till,  but  having  few  or  no  bowlders,  in  tho  east  edge  of  the  XE.  r}  of  Sec. 
8,  about  1,230  feet;  train  of  beach  gravel  and  sand  extending  thence  30 
rods  southward,  1,217  feet,  with  desccMit  of  15  or  20  feet  on  each  side. 

Continuing  beyond  the  Jliddlo  Branch  of  Park  Elver,  this  highest 
beach  is  well  developed  in  a  broad  ridge  running  due  north  through  tho 
west  part  of  Sec.  4,  T.  158,  R.  50,  with  its  crest  at  1,202  to  1,208  feet.  On 
the  east  the  surface  falls  30  or  40  feet,  and  more  slowly  beyond,  while 
toward  the  west  a  descent  of  10  feet  is  succeeded  by  a  Hat  surface  of 
till,  which  rises  slowly  from  the  foot  of  tho  beach  ridge  to  a  swell,  1,215 
to  1 ,225  feet,  a  half  mile  away,  forming  the  east  boundary  of  the  Golden 
Valley.  This  beach  is  sand  and  gravel,  with  pel)bles  up  to  G  inches  in 
diameter.  About  half  of  them  are  limestone  ;  nearly  all  of  the  remain- 
der are  archean  granite,  gneiss,  and  schists;  scarcely  1  iu  200  is  creta- 
ceous shale.  Through  the  west  edge  of  Sec.  33,  T.  159,  11.  5(5,  the  ele- 
vation of  this  excellent  be.ach  ridge  is  1,202  to  1,205  feet,  and  ia  the 
southwest  edge  of  Sec.  28  and  the  niiddlo  of  the  east  edge  of  Sec.  29, 
1 ,202  to  1,197  feet,  decreasing  in  height  and  size  northward.  For  a  half 
mile  through  tho  SW.  J  of  Sec.  33,  a  slight  secondary  beach  ridge,  4  to  0 
feet  lower,  lies  about  30  rods  east  from  the  foregoing;  its  crest  is  at 
1,198  to  1,195  feet,  sinking  a  few  feet  from  south  to  north  ;  it  is  divided 
from  tho  higher  beach  by  a  continuous  depression  about  3  feet  deep. 

Very  massive  beach  ridge,  composed  of  sand  and  gravel,  with  pebbles 
and  rock  fragments,  tho  largest  only  slightly  water- worn,  up  toG  in(;hes 
in  diameter,  passing  a  few  degrees  west  of  north  through  the  center  of 
Sec.  20,  T.  159, 11. 50,  crest  in  tho  south  half  of  the  section,  1 ,208  to  1,215 
feet;  in  the  north  half,  1,215  to  1,223  feet.  On  the  east  is  a  descent  of  20 
to  30  feet  within  25  to  40  rods,  and  on  tho  west  10  or  12  feet  from  tho 
highest  part  of  tho  beach  within  10  rods  to  a  iniarly  level  area  of  till, 
1,211  feet,  which  sinks  40  rods  farther  west  to  a  long  slough,  about  1,205 
feet,  parallel  with  tho  beach  and  one-sixth  of  a  mile  wide.  Beyond 
this  an  undulating  surface  of  till,  partly  covered  with  busings  and  small 
trees,  rises  to  l,250or  1,275  feet  within  2  miles,  and  then  in  smooth  mass- 
ive swells  to  1,450  or  1,500  feet  within  the  next  2  to  4  miles.    These  are 

(457) 


72 


UPPER    IJEACIIES    OF   LAKE   AOASSIZ. 


lBi:Ui.30. 


1"II 


part  of  a  plateau,  thorice  rising  more  slowly  westward,  whoso  bouiidary 
for  tlio  next  50  miles  or  more  to  tbo  north  and  northwest  is  the  eonspi*;- 
nons  escarpment  called  Pembina  Mountain. 

The  nortli  end  of  this  massive  beacjh  bears  onits  crest  an  artifniisil 
embankment  100  feet  long-  from  east  to  west  and  20  feet  wide,  raisetl  11 
feet  above  the  natural  surface;,  its  top  being  1,225  feet  above  t!i(^  sea, 
This  is  10  rods  soutli  fmm  wliero  the  beach  is  cut  to  1,210  feet  by  a  wi<l(^ 
gap,  as  of  some  ancient  watercourse.  In  the  south  edge  of  the  SW.  .] 
of  Sec.  1 7,  T.  15«),  M.  50,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  North  Branch  of  Pai  k 
River,  about  10  rods  east  from  the  ford  of  the  "Half-breed  road,"thi.s 
beach  has  an  elevation  of  1,220  feet.    • 

North  Branch  of  Park  River  at  this  ford,  10  to  15  feet  wide  and  a 
few  inches  deep,  1,203  foot.  Surface  at  Garder,  a  niile  cast,  1,175  to  1 ,170 
feet.  Lower  ITermau  beach,  pa.ssing  from  south  to  north  along  the 
east  side  of  Sees.  20  and  17,  T.  159,  R.  5G,  a  third  of  a  mile  west  of 
Garder,  about  1,185  feet. 

FROM  OARDER  NORTH  TO  TIIK  TONGUE  RIVER. 

Sees.  17,  8,  and  5,  T.  150, 11. 50,  ris(;  from  1 ,100  and  1,200  feet  on  their 
east  side  to  1,220  and  1,225  feet  on  the  west,  including,  therefore,  the 
upper  Herman  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz;  but  they  present  no  considerable 
de])0sit8  of  beach  gravel  and  sand.  A  swell  of  till,  ^priidiled  with  very 
abundant  bowlders,  nearly  all  archean  granite  and  gneiss,  up  to  5 
feet  in  diameter,  extends  from  south  to  north  across  the  lino  between 
Secs.8  and  5,  having  its  crest  at  1,215  foot,  from  which  there  is  a  steep 
descent  of  10  or  12  leet  to  the  west.  Sloughs  and  pools  of  water,  per- 
manent through  the  year,  lie  in  the  west  part  of  Sec.  5,  about  1,100  feet 
above  the  sea. 

The  South  Branch  of  Cart  Creek  in  Sees.  31  and  32,  T.  100,  R.  50,  is 
bordered  by  a  belt  of  timber  a  half  mile  wide;  but  it  has  only  a  small 
channel  a  few  fe<^t  below  the  general  surface  and  is  dry  through  the 
greater  part  of  the  year.  Its  alluvial  gravel,  like  that  of  the  Mi«ldle  i 
and  North  Branches  of  Park  River,  is  mostly  cretaceous  shale,  derived  ? 
from  the  gorges  eroded  in  this  rock  at  the  sources  of  these  streams  in 
the  Pembina  Mountain. 

Along  the  western  border  of  Lake  Agassi;?  here  and  northward  into  ; 
Manitoba  extends  a  prominent  wooded  bliift',  the  escarpment  of  a  tree- 
less plateau  which  from  its  crest  stretches  with  slow  ascent  westward.  ; 
This  escarpment,  connnonly  called  the  second  Pembina  mountain,  is  I 
a  very  marked  feature  in  the  topography  for  at  least  50  miles.  It  isi 
caused  by  the  outcrop,  mostly  overspread  by  glacial  drift,  of  a  continu-i 
ous  belt  of  nearly  horizontal  creta(;oous  shale,  stn'cral  hundred  feetv 
thick,  usually  so  hard  an«l  endnring  that  it  is  popularly  ternuMl  "slate."; 
Its  course  coincides  nearly  with  the  west  line  of  Ts.  150  and  100,  R.  50l 
Thence  it  continues  in  an  almost  straight  course,  a  few  degrees  west  of 
north,  through  Sees.  31  and  30,  T.  IGl,  11.  50;  Sees.  24,  13, 12,  and  2,  t| 

(458) 


i 


to  t 
nori 
and 
boy( 
1,40( 
<(nar 

•^2,  'J' 
town; 
haviii 
bowI(i 
i''<lge 
fo  nor 
feet. 
Hoar  J\ 
'H'aclic 
"ear  tl 
i^hove  i 
"lino  tl 
cscarpii 
I^'ourf 
'"g  nort 
',H;Ofo 
milo  wi( 
10  ft>,.t,  , 
tlie  nori 
^\hioh  o( 
ii  nii|(»  ^vi 
''»e  area 
uuulo  wit 
fo  about 
with  wo()( 
*^r  near  tl 

In  (ho 

Sec.  0,  T. 

U'iJIow  Ci 

•">  an«l  0  (, 

'iiorgod  in 

^vhich  risoj 

f*"  the  wos 

<JerIaid  by 

^>aso  of  s 

<ho  nppju-  I 


I  »IIAM.] 


HERMAN    HEAOTI    IN    DAKOTA. 


78 


50,  ia 
sm.vU 

[evivetl 
lams  in 

Ird  into 
la  tree- 
jtward. 
(tain,  is  f 
It  ia| 
Mitinn-j. 
W\  feo.t| 
tslato/i 
U.  50| 
Iwest  of 
Xi\  iJ,  Tl 


101,  II.  57;  Sees.  35,  20,  22,  15,  10,  0,  and  4,  T.  102,  11.  57;  Sc.  .33,  28, 
21,  10,  0,  and  4,  T.  103,  11.  57 ;  and  Sees.  33,  32,  and  29,  T.  104,  11.  57, 
to  tho  intornational  boundary,  beyond  which  it  soon  turns  more  to  tho 
northwest.  The  base  of  the  ascent  is  about  1,225  feet  above  the  sea 
and  its  crest  approximately  l,ftOO  feet,  northward  to  the  Pembina  lljver, 
beyond  which  llie  base  sinks  to  1,150  and  1,100  feet  and  the  crest  to 
1 ,400  and  1 ,300  feet.  The  width  occupied  by  the  slope  varies  from  a 
(juarter  to  a  half  of  a  mile. 

Natural  surface  at  the  quarter-section  stake  on  the  north  side  of  Sec. 
32,  T.  100,  11.  5(5, 1,17S  feet  above  the  sea.  Sees.  32,  29,  and  20  of  this 
townshij)  are  mostly  till,  smoothed  by  this  jjlacial  lake,  the  depressions 
having  been  iilled  by  leveling  down  the  higher  portions,  where  many 
bowlders  partially  emliedded  testify  to  considerable  erosion.  A  broad 
ridge  of  beach  san<l  and  line  gravel,  3  to  5  feet  liigii,  extends  from  south 
to  north  through  the  center  of  Sec.  29,  its  crest  being  at  1,180  to  1,132 
feet.  This  is  the  third  in  the  series  of  four  Herman  beaches  observed 
near  Maple  Lake,  near  Larimore,  and  in  T.  15S,  II.  50.  Tho  liigher 
beaches  are  probably  also  recognizable  1  to  lA  miles  farther  west, 
near  the  base  of  tho  "second  mountain,"  which  is  1,220  to  1,230  feet 
above  tho  sea;  but  it  is  impracticable  to  trace  their  course  and  deter- 
mine their  exact  elevation,  because  woods  reach  from  the  base  of  this 
csciirpment  a  half  mile  east,  where  these  beaches  belong. 

Fourth  llernuin  beach,  a  bro.ad  low  swell  of  sand  and  gravel,  extend- 
ing north-northwesterly  through  the  east  half  of  Sec.  20,  T.  100,  11.  50, 
1,100  to  1.172  feet;  through  Sees,  17  and  8,  an  eighth  to  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  wi«le,  1,101  to  1,173  feet,  having  in  some  places  a  depth  of  at  least 
10  foet,  as  shown  bj'  wells.  On  the  north  line  of  Sec.  20  and  again  in 
the  north  part  of  Sec.  17,  it  is  intersected  by  branches  of  Cart  Creek, 
which  o(%'upy  valleys  about  40  feet  deep  and  an  eighth  to  a  (piarter  of 
a  mih^  wide,  lirush  and  scattered  trees  grow  in  these  valleys  and  on 
tiie  area  between  them.  Toward  the  east  a  descent  of  30  or  40  feet  is 
!iiade  within  the  first  half  luile  ;  westward  there  is  only  a  slight  ascent, 
to  about  1,200  feet,  in  1  mile;  then  a  more  considerable  slope,  covered 
with  woods,  rises  20  to  40  feet  to  the  base  of  the  "  second  mountain,"  on 
or  near  the  township  line. 

In  the  west  part  of  Sec.  8  and  again  near  the  northeast  corner  of 
Sec.  0,  T.  100,  It.  50,  this  beach  is  intersected  by  tho  headstreams  of 
Willow  Cn^ek,  in  valleys  about  35  feet  deep.  On  the  north  line  of  Sees. 
5  and  (5  of  this  township,  the  fourth  and  third  Herman  beaches  are 
merg<'d  in  an  undulating  tract  of  gravel  and  sand  a  half  mile  wide, 
whi(!h  rises  from  1 ,1G0  feet  on  tho  east  to  1,184  feet  on  the  west.  A  well 
on  the  west  part  of  this  belt  found  tho  beach  deposit  0  feet  thick,  un- 
derlaid by  till,  which  forms  tho  slightly  iis(!endiiig  surface  next  west. 

Base  of  second  l^embina  Mountain  in  tlieeast  half  of  Sec.  31,  T.  101, 
R.  50, 1,235  at  the  south  to  1,220  feet  northwar<l,<'()iiiciding  nearly  with 
the  ui»per  Herman  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz.     William  Oombie's  well,  24 

{4.-.9) 


74 


UPPER   BEACHES   OF   LAKE   AOASSIZ. 


[lllJLl..  39. 


feet  deep,  near  the  centia*  of  Sec.  30,  sitiiitted  about  50  feet  above  the 
Tongue  liiver,  a  few  rods  back  from  tlie  verjfe  of  its  north  bhilf,  was 
soil,  2  feet;  jj^ravel,  nearly  all  cretaceous  shale,  8  feet;  underlaid  by 
{gravel,  nea  ly  all  {granite  and  s^neiss,  with  scarcely  any  intermixture  of 
shale,  containinjj  pebbles  and  cobbles  upto  l  inches  in  diameter,  14  feet, 
yielding  a  permanent  supply  of  watei*.  This  well  is  close  to  the  base  of 
the  "mountain,"  at  an  ehnation  of  about  1,2}0  feet.  Its  bed  of  granite 
gravel  appears  to  be  ihe  upper  beach,  the  overlying  shale  gravel  being 
a  delta  deposit  brouglit  by  Tongue  liiver. 

Surface  at  Young  post  olllce,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  SW.  ^  of 
Sec.  32,  T.  1(11,  li.  50,  i,l{»2  feet.  Tiie  well  here,  14  feet  deep,  is  wholly 
stratified  gravel  and  saiid,  b(;ing  a,  bi;ach  deposit  of  the  second  and 
third  stages  in  the  Ileniiaji  series.  Third  bench,  about  an  eighth  of  a 
mile  east  of  Young  post  ollice,  a  broad  ridge  of  sand  and  fine  gravel, 
a  few  feet  above  the  lainl  ou  its  west  side,  crest,  1,187  feet.  Fourth  and 
lowest  Herman  beacjli,  of  similar  form  with  the  last,  but  larger,  running 
a  few  degrees  west  of  north  through  the  west  edge  of  Sec.  33,  1,173  to 
1,175  feet,  with  dejjression  of  1  to  5  feet  on  its  west  side  and  descent 
of  25  feet  within  30  or  40  rods  east.  About  a  third  of  a  mile  east 
from  the  crest  of  the  last  is  another  parallel  bench  ridge,  belonging  to 
the  Norcross  stage  of  this  glacial  lake. 

Tongue  Kiver  at  bridge  near  the  center  of  the  south  half  of  Sec.  28, 
T.  IGl,  R.  50,  about  1,110 feet;  bottondand,  10  feet  higher;  topof  blnlVs, 
about  1,150  feet.  Gavin's  Creek  in  tlie  south  half  of  Sec.  20,  about  1 ,140 
feet;  vallej'  40  feet  deep,  a  sixth  of  a  mile  wide. 

Lowest  Herman  beach,  a  massive  ridge  of  sand  and  line  gravel,  in  the 
NE.  ^  of  Sec.  29  and  the  east  part  of  Sees.  20  and  17,  T.  101,  R.  56, 
1,175  to  1,180  feet. 

DELTA  OF  TIIE  PEMBINA  RIVER. 

The  largest  tributary  to  the  Red  River  in  Dakota  is  the  Pembina 
River,  which  has  cut  a  valley  about  400  feet  deep  and  a  mile  wide  in 
the  plateau  of  the  second  Pend>ina  Mountain.    During  the  recession 
of  the  ice  sheet  this  stream  appears  to  have  been  much  larger  than 
now,   being  the  outlet  of  glacial  lakes  in  the  basins  of  the  Souris 
and  Assiniboine  Rivers.'    From  the  bend  of  the  Souris,  or  Mouse  River,  \ 
eighteen  miles  southwest  of  its  mouth,  the  river  discharging  the  waters  ; 
of  these  lakes  ran  southeasterly  to  the  Pembina  River.    Pelican  Lake, 
eleven  miles  long  from  northwest  to  southeast  and  about  a  mile  wide, 
occupies  a  part  of  the  channel  of  this  stream ;  and  a  distinct  water- 
course of  similar  width,  called  Lang's  Valley,  eroded  150  to  200  feet 
below  the  general  level,  extends  eleven  miles  between  this  lake  and  thej 
Souris  River.    The  highest  portion  of  Lang's  Valley  is  1,304  feet  abovef 


'NiutU  Annual  Report  of  the  Goologic.il  uiul  Natural  History  Survey  of  Mlnuesota^ 
p. 342;  ami  Hind's  Reportof  the  Assiniboine  and  Saskatcbowau  Exploring  Expedition! 
1859,  pp.  118  and  168. 

(4C0) 

I 


vvi 

th( 
sill 
ero 

afth 

ext( 

-sevc 

Abo 

the  ] 

Its 

feet; 

east  ] 

1,220 

slopes 

liordci 

of  thij 

have  I 

reache 

one  mi 

a  Very 

south  t( 

1,100  to 

east  edf 

•iscent  t 

«n  this 

needing 

Iialf,  of 

varying. 

^^atun 
feet. 

The  pa 
central  a 
^vhich  a  ] 
Jn  wJiicii 
JC2,  It.  rjC, 
than  the  i 
aiidiises 
"»  Sec.  15, 
tJ'e  <<  secoi 
this  lowest 
from  its  ea; 

of  the  "sec 
leaving  th* 

natural  cou 

a  portion  o 


iiriiAM.] 


HERMAN    r.KACH    IX    DAKOTA. 


76 


5 
S 

y 
)f 

t, 
[)f 

to, 

of 
>iiy 

ind 
)f  a 
vel, 
and 

iuJ»g 
[3  to 

iceut 

east 

iig  to 

sc.  28, 

jlnft's, 

1,140 

111  the 
11.56, 


mbina 

ride  in    f 

kessiou   i 
than 

iSouris 
llliver, 
(waters  , 
LaUe,  : 
wide, : 
water- 1 
loo  feet! 
W  tUe^ 
abovol 

^niiesota^ 


the  sea,  and  is  bordered  by  bbifls  that  rise  KJO  feet.  It  is  fi  clianiiel 
similar  to  that  of  Lakes  Traverse  and  Jiij;-  Stone  ami  Ilrown's  Valley, 
eroded  by  tlie  Kiver  Warren.  The  delta  deposited  in  tlie  niMrj;in  of  tlie 
glacial  Lake  Agassiz  by  tlo  Pembina  liivi  r,  thus  swollen  by  a  jjrcat 
afllnent  from  the  meltiuf?  ice  fields  beyond  the  present  limits  of  its  basin, 
extends  twelve  miles  from  south  to  iiortl'  and  has  a  maximum  width  of 
«eveii  miles,  with  a  maximum  hiekuess  execoding  two  hundred  feet. 
About  five  sixths  of  this  delta  of  fifty  scjuare  miles  or  more  lie  south  of 
the  Pembina  Kiver,  reaching  nearly  to  th(^  Tongue  Kiver. 

Its  elevation  in  the  northwest  part  of  Sec,  17,  T.  1(11,  K.  5(>,  is  1,200 
feet;  thence  northward  it  rises  slowly  in  two  miles  to  1,225  feet  in  the 
east  part  of  Sec.  G;  and  iii  Sees.  31  and  .30,  T.  1G2,  K.  50,  it  varies  from 
1,220  to  1,227  feet.  From  this  crest  of  the  southern  part  of  the  delta  it 
slopes  slowly  east  and  northeast  to  1,080  and  1,090  feet  at  i*s  eastern 
border,  in  Sees.  2."),  21,  and  1.'3,  which  coincides  nearly  with  the  cast  line 
of  this  T.  102,  J{.  50.  Deep  valleys,  Avith  frequent  tributary  ravines, 
have  been  eroded  in  it  by  several  small  streams.  Westward  the  delta 
reaches  to  the  base  of  the  "second  monntain,"  the  belt  a  half  mile  to 
one  mile  wide  next  beyond  the  crest,  only  about  5  feet  lower,  being 
a  very  flat,  beautiful  prairie,  which  rises  slowly,  like  the  crest,  from 
south  to  north.  The  elevation  of  this  belt  in  Sec.  18,  T.  101,  K.  .50,  is 
1,190  to  1,195  feet,  and  at  Mr.  Ileni-y  CJ oil's  house,  in  the  middle  of  the 
east  edge  of  Sec.  30,  T.  1G2,  K.  57, 1,221  feet.  Farth.er  west  there  is  an 
ascent  to  about  1,210  feet  at  the  base  of  the  "  second  mountain."  Wells 
on  this  area  penetrate  only  beds  of  sand  and  gravel,  easy  to  dig  and 
needing  to  be  curbed  to  prevent  caving.  A  large  ])roportion,  probably 
half,  of  the  gravel  is  cretaceous  shale.  Water  is  obtained  at  depths 
varying  from  twenty-five  to  sixty  feet. 

Natural  surface  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Sec.  .30,  T.  1G2.  K.  50, 1,227 
feet. 

The  part  of  the  Pembina  delta  thus  far  described  is  divided  from  its 
central  and  higher  part  by  a  depression  about  a  mile  wide,  through 
which  a  portion  or  the  whole  of  the  river  llowed  during  much  of  the  tim  e 
in  which  this  delta  was  formed.  In  the  southwest  corner  of  Sec.  IS,  T. 
102,  K.  50,  this  depression  is  1,205  feet  above  the  sea,  being  20  feet  lower 
than  the  area  on  the  south.  It  extends  eastward  with  a  slow  descent 
and  lises  westward  to  1,215  feet  close  east  of  the  Little  Pembina  River 
in  Sec.  15,  T.  1G2,  K.  57.  This  stream  flows  through  the  escarpment  of 
the  "  second  mountain"  in  the  SE.  ^  of  Sec.  22,  about  a  mile  south  from 
this  lowest  part  of  the  divide  on  its  east  side.  It  there  turns  abruptly 
from  its  eastCiii  course  and  thence  flows  north-northwest  along  the  base 
of  the  "  second  mountain  "  to  its  junction  with  the  Pembina  Kiver ;  thus 
leaving  the  depression  just  described,  which  would  seem  to  be  its  more 
natural  course,  and  taking  in  its  stead  a  channel  that  is  eroded  through 
a  portion  of  the  delta  50  feet  higlier. 

(401) 


7(; 


liri'KU    IJEACHKH   OF    I.AKK    AOASSIZ. 


llll'LL.  30. 


Tlio  most  elevated  pointof  this  delta,  as  it  now  renuiins,  is  about  1,LJ70 
feet  above  the  sea,  near  the  northwest  corner  of  Sec.  11,  T.  IG'J,  U.  57, 
east  of  the  Little  Pembina  and  south  of  the  J*euibina  Kiver,  nearly  300 
feet  above  the  junction  of  these  streams,  Ih  miles  distant  toward  the 
northwest.  Sec.  12  of  tliis  township  and  the  west  part  of  Sec.  7,  T.  1  f)3,  K. 
50,  slope  from  1,225  on  the  south  to  1,215  fe(!t  on  the  north ;  their  south- 
ern part  is  the  highest  land  crossed  between  thodei)ression  before  men- 
tioned and  the  I'embina  Kiver  by  the  line  dividing  these  townships. 
The  level  of  Lake  Agassiz  in  its  highest  stage  here  was  1,220  or  1,225 
feet  above  the  sea,  being  .50  feet  below  the  top  of  the  Pembina  delta,  as  is 
shown  by  the  beach  line  of  this  level,  1,220  feet,  in  the  central  part  of 
this  Sec.  7,  where  an  eastward  descent  begins.  This  is  the  east  verge  of 
the  nearly  Hat  area  of  the  delta  in  Se(!S.  12  aiul  7.  Like  all  of  this  vast 
delta  deposit,  the  material  here  is  sand  and  gravel,  covered  by  a  fertile 
soil.  A  small  proportion  of  the  pebbh^s  of  this  gravel  is  limestone ;  a 
large  part  is  cretaceous  shale;  but  more  was  derived  from  archean 
formations  of  granite  and  gneiss. 

Second  Herman  beach,  a  ridge  of  the  usual  form,  crossed  by  the  road 
near  the  east  side  of  the  NM  |  of  Sec.  7,  T.  102,  K.  50,  descending  from 
1,213  feet  to  about  1,200  IVet  in  a  distance  of  a  third  or  half  of  a  mile 
from  south  to  iu)rth. 

William  Roadhouse's  well,  110  feet  deep,  in  the  NVV.  ^  of  Sec.  0,  T. 

102,  K.  ,50,  at  elevation  of  1,184  feet,  is  all  stratified  sand  and  gravel, 
with  pebbles  up  to  G  inches  in  diameter,  fully  half  cretaceous  shale. 
Water  comes  in  coarse  snnd  at  the  bottom,  filling  the  lowest  2  feet. 
Another  well  of  the  same  description,  but  137  foet  deep,  is  a  mile  far. 
ther  east,  at  Wellington  Stewart's  house,  in  the  SW.  ^  of  Sec.  4,  1  ^.92 
feet  above  the  sea. 

Crest  of  the  tirst  Pembina  mountain  in  the  north  part  of  Sec.  33,  T. 

103,  R.  50,  nearly  two  miles  southeast  from  Walhalla,  a  i'aw  rods  west 
from  the  summit  on  the  Olga  road  and  5  feet  higher,  1,190  feet. 
This  is  a  beach  accumulation,  belonging  to  the  third  Merman  stage.  On 
the  west  and  so ut4i west  the  undulating  delta  i)latean,  mostly  covered 
with  bushes  and  occasional  trees,  is  10  to  30  feet  lower  for  a  width  of 
1  to  lA  miles,  averaging  about  1,175  feet. 

Northeast  from  the  crest  of  the  Olga  road  a  short  descent  is  made  to 
a  prairie  terrace  30  to  GO  rods  wide,  varying  in  elevation  fiom  ],1S2 
to  1,109  feet,  but  mainly  within  2  feet  above  or  below  1,175.  In  gen- 
eral the  verge  of  this  terrace  is  its  lowest  portion.  Thence  a  very  steep 
descent  of  100  feet  is  made  on  the  road  from  1,173  to  1,004:  feet,  this 
being  the  very  conspicuous  wooded  escarpment  called  the  "  first  mount- 
ain." It  is  the  eroded  front  of  the  great  Pembina  delta,  the  eastern 
part  of  which,  originally  descending  more  moderatelj',  has  been  swept 
away  by  the  waves  and  shore  currents  of  the  ancient  lake  during  its 
Norcross,  Campbell,  and  McCauleyvillo  stages.     From  the  north  part  of 

(4G2) 


I'niA.M 

this  £ 
102,  J 
I)a.sNii 

I        H'hieh 

I        Sun 

'  post  0/ 
•  l>Jidge, 
'  Uiglj 

-«5  and 

f      HX'ijt.  i 

presseil 
1,240  fe, 
portion 
1     "ortJ,^  13, 

f        ^"aturi 
20,  T.  10; 

TJiird  1 

"hich  th( 

to  J,  ISO/-, 

iu  the  o])j 

of  Sec.  30, 

Other  sho. 

l*embinji  J 

lu  the  g 

uear  Wall 

f''o  south  t 

bles  of  son 

stone,  and 

'  'iffgregate, 

'  n^liite  qnur 

o«tiur  rarely 


'  TJlO  fust  1\ 

'  'H  'ollow.s:  "J 
;  I  teijac.)  of  tal 
^  ''«wlu)Ioof  «1 
r'>raboiitiiv.,,i 

'';  "^  grounds  of 
f  loologicjil  s.irv 

I  IJosaysoftlio 

"I  formed  at  oi 

■previously  d 

'c.,  preeentod 


do| 


Ul-IIAM.  I 


IIKliMAN     I!I;A(  II     I.N     DAKOTA. 


77 


33,  T. 

{■^  west    ■ 
i>  feet, 
le.    On 
l)vevetl 
lath  ol' 

Isule  to 

|u  p;en- 
steep 

ft, 


thi«  Sec.  3u  the  '•  first mouiitaiu"  extends  soiitlieiist  to  Sees.  i;»  aiul  U4,  T. 
IGli,  U.  50,  before  mentioned,  and  northwest  across  the  I'einbinu  Itiver, 
pussiug  close  sontliwest  of  Wallialla  and  on  ward  to  tSecs.  l()and3,T.  !<»;>, 
K.  57.  Its  bijjhest  part  is  intersected  by  the  {•einbina  Itiver,  above 
which  it  rises  on  each  side  in  bbitfs  of  j;ravel  and  sand  200  to  250  feet 
bij;li,  witli  their  crests  a  half  mile  to  1  mile  apart.' 

Surface  at  liellevue  Hotel,  Wallialla,  9'Ji  feet  above  the  sea;  at  the 
post  oUice,  Mr.  G.  J).  Loring's  store,  OOS  feet ;  Pembina  Kiver,  at  the 
bridge,  a  third  of  a  mile  east  of  Widhalla,  031  feet. 

Highest  part  of  the  Pembina  delta  north  of  Pembina  lliver,  in  Sees. 
25  and  20,  T.  103,  It.  57, 1,210  to  1,230  feet,  rising  slowly  from  east  to 
west;  ill  the  west  half  of  Sec.  20  and  the  east  edge  of  Sec.  27,  it  is  de- 
juessed  to  1,225  and  1,220  feet;  but  beyond  this  it  rises  to  1,235  and 
1,240  feet,  next  to  the  foot  of  the  "  second  mountain."  From  this  upper 
portion  the  delta  slopes  down  gradually  toward  the  northeast  aud 
north,  extending  only  2  tj  1  miles  beyond  the  Pembina  lliver. 

Natural  surface  at  the  <iaarter-section  stake  on  the  north  side  of  Sec. 
20,  T.  103,  n.  57,  1,191  feet. 

Third  Herman  beach,  crest  5  rods  south  of  this  stake,  1,197  feet,  from 
which  there  is  a  descent  in  5  rods  south  to  1,192  feet  and  in  15  rods  north 
to  1 ,180  feet.  This  beach  curves  thence  to  the  northwest  and  north,  ami 
iu  the  opposite  direction  runs  east-southeast  2  miles  to  near  the  center 
of  Sec.  30,  T.  103,  K.  50,  where  its  elevation  is  approximately  1,192  feet. 
Other  shore  lines  of  the  Herman  group  were  not  noticed  imrth  of  the 
Pembina  Itiver. 

Iu  the  gravel  of  this  delta,  as  seen  in  the  bluifs  of  Pembina  Eiver 
uear  Walhalla  and  at  noteworthy  springs  2  miles  to  the  south,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Sec.  32,  the  peb- 
bles of  some  beds  are  mainly  cretaceous  shale,  of  others  mostly  lime- 
stone, and  of  others  granite,  gneiss,  and  dark  trappean  rocks.    In  the 

s  aggregate,  these  three  classes  have  a  nearly  equal  representation. 

''  White  quartz  and  moss  agate  are  fre(iuent  and  bits  of  silicilied  wood 
occur  rarely  ;  but  no  banded  agates  were  found.    Numerous  pieces  of 


'  Tlio  first  rctiibiiia  niountiiin  was  visited  by  l"*.  I).  Owen  in  1848.     IIo  deHcribes  it 

;iH  Ibllow.s  :  "  IVinbiiia  Mountain  is,  in  fact,  no  mountain  at  all,  nor  yot  a  lull.     It  is 

I  terrace  of  tabic  land,  llio  ancient  shore  of  a  (;reat  body  of  ^Yater  tbat  once  tilled 

.  lie  whole  of  the  lied  Kivcr  Valley.     On  its  HUiuniit  it  is  quite  level  aud  extends  wo 

I  or  about  live  miles  westward  to  another  terrace,  the  sunniiit  of  -which  I  was  told  is 

I  I'vel  with  the  ^icat  bulValo  plains  that  stretch  away  towards  the  Missouri,  the  hunt- 

lii«;  grounds  of  the  Sioux  and  the  half-breed  population  of  Red  River."— Koport  of  a 

this  '  ''''*lt>g''^iil  Survey  of  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  aud  Minnesota,  IH.Vi,  p.  178. 

Hoth  the  lirst  .aud  secoiul  Pembina  mountains  were  examined  in  1857  by  Palliser, 


Inount-  ^  j^^  ^^^,^  ^^^  ^j^^  „^^  jj^.^^  jjj^,^^.  Valley  ami  the  Pembiua  delta  :  "  This  plain,  no  doubt, 

[astern  |  ^^l  formed  at  one  time  the  bed  of  a  sheet  of  water,  aud  the  Peiubiiui  Hill,  consisting 

swept  I ;  previously  deposited  materials,  wasits  western  shore."— .Journals,  detailed  reports, 

luff   its  f^^-,  preeentod  to  Parliament,  lUtli  May,  1803,  p.  41. 


Ipart 


of 


(403) 


78 


UFPEli    BEACHES   OF   LAKE   AGASSIZ, 


[nuLl..  30. 


lignite,  rounded  by  water  wearing,  from  2  to  4  inches  in  diameter,  iio. 
ticed  in  this  delta  gravel  at  the  springs,  have  caused  some  to  look  for 
workable  beds  of  this  kind  of  coal  in  the  vic;,iiit.y  ;  but  the  proportion 
of  these  fragments  is  no  greater  than  in  tlie  glacial  drift  generally 
throughout  this  region  and  for  hundreds  of  miles  to  the  south. 

Surface  at  the  iron  post  set  on  the  international  boundary  on  the  north 
side  of  the  fractional  Sec.  27,  T.  IGt,  R.  57,  about  a  (Quarter  of  a  mile 
east  from  the  line  between  Sees.  27  and  28,  1,018  feet  above  the  sea ; 
top  of  this  post,  1,022  feet.^ 

Smooth  surface  of  till  on  the  top  of  the  "  second  mountain"  in  the  SE. 
\  of  Sec.  82,  T.  104,  K.  o7,  1,208  to  1,311  feet  above  the  sea;  shallow 
lakelet  in  the  SW.  ^  of  this  Sec.  32,  30  rods  long  from  northwest  to 
southeast,  1,309  feet;  natural  surface  of  the  northeast  corner  of  S(?c.  0, 
T.  103,  It.  57,  1,321  feet. 

Base  of  "Heart  Mound,"^  a  peculiar  hillock  of  cretaceous  shale,  Avith 
very  steep  sides  and  smoothly  rounded  top,  situated  near  the  center  of 
this  Sec.  0,  T.  103,  U.  57,  about  1,300  feet;  and  its  top,  about  1,390 feet. 
Some  have  erroneously  supposed  it  an  artiticial  mound.  Glacial  drift, 
containing  granitic  bowUlers  up  to  4  or  5  feet  in  diameter,  thinly  covers 
its  northeast  side;  but  the  other  sides  ami  crest  of  this  knob  show  very 
clearly  that  it  is  an  outlier  of  the  cretaceous  beds  that  form  higher  land 
about  a  mile  westward,  and,  indeed,  make  the  whole  length  of  the  second 
Pembina  Mountain,  being  left  tiius  isolated  from  the  surrounding  area 
by  erosion. 

The  lowest  exposure  of  this  shale  observed  is  3iJ  miles  south  from 
Heart  Mound,  at  the  "lish  trap,"  a  rude  weir  of  brush  and  poles,  on  the ; 
Pembina  Kiver,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  N\V.  ^  of  Sec.  30,  T.  103, ' 
Ivi.  57.    Here  the  river  falls  Ih  feet  in  40  rods,  its  elevation  being  esti- 
mated about  1 ,050  feet.    The  southwestern  blurt  rises  steeply  from  the 


'TIio  section  on  tho  bomidiiry  within  tho  next  2  niilos  west  is  doscribcil  by  Dr.  G.^ 
M.  Diiwson  as  follows:  "  Tiio  oastova  front  of  I'unibina  osoarpnion  t  is  vory  uiNtinctlji 
tcrraciMl,  ami  tlui  siininiit  of  tlio  platDaii,  cvon  at  its  oiistiM'ii  <!ilj?t!,  thickly  eovcrei^ 
with  drift.     Tlic  llrst  or  lowest  torraon,  wliiish  is  about  oms-thinl  from  tho  prairio  lovei 
toward  tho  top  of  tho  oscarpniont,     »     "     »     d.^js  not  soimti  to  ]trosoi'vo  exactly  tha 
same  altitnde.     On  tho  boundary  lino  its  hoin'ht  above  tlio  <^en(^ral   prairie  hivel  wa# 
found  to  bo  about  'JO  foot;  a  second  tiUTace,  'J:iO  feet ;  and  that  of  tho  third  level,  of 
summit  of  tho  i)lateau,  about  'MO  feet.    The  surface  of  the  first  terrace,  which  is  Ler0 
wide,  is  strewn  with  bowlders,  as  is  also  that  of  tho  second  to  rraco  and  plateau  abovd. 
These  aro  chietly  of  Laurentian  fj;iieiHs  and  j^ranite,  but  a  few  smaller   ones  of  limo* 
stone  occur.     Tho  banks  of  ravines  ciillini;  the  to]>  of  tho  plateau  and  draining 
westward  into  tho  Pombina  River  show,  in  some  placos,  a  j^reat  thick  ness  of  lij^ht 
colored,  yellowish,  marly  drift,  with  few  bowlders  embedded  in  it." — Ueport  on  tlM 
Geology  aiul  IJesourecsof  tho  liej^ioii  in  the  Vicinity  of  tho  Fnrty-uinth  I'arallol,  fron 
tho  Luke  of  tho  Woods  to  tho  Rocky  Mountains,  1875,  p.  '21 

'^Conun(uily  called  by  Knglish-speaking  people  in  its  vicinity  "Tho  Indian  Moun<'^ 
but  more  pioperly  nanu;d  as  above,  in  accordauco  with  tho  usage  o  f  t\ui  Fnmch  voyi 
geursaiidimmigrants,who,  probably  translating  tho  aboriginal  uame,  call  this  mou|k 
ttud  tho  aroaof  prairio  around  it  La  Baio  du  Coour. 

(464) 


10. 
lO. 

"or 
oil 

iiy 

iitli 
uilc .    I 

SB. 
Uow 
it  to 
:^c.  0, 

,  witli 
itei-  of 
lO  feet, 
drift, 
covers 
w  very 
er  land 
second 
Qg  area 


uruAM.I 


HERMAN    BEACH    IN    DAKOTA. 


79 


fish  trap  to  a  lieiglit  of  1/50  feet,  and  at  tbo  time  of  my  visit,  in  Angnst, 
1885,  was  newly  exposed  by  slides,  being  shown  to  be  a  bard,  fissile, 
dark  gray  shale,  nearly  horizontal  in  stratification  to  a  height  of  100 
feet,  capped  by  glacial  drift.  In  the  shale,  crystals  of  seleiiite,  2  or  3 
inches  long,  are  frequent,  and  the  same  mineral  occurs  in  its  crevices 
and  seams.  No  fossils  were  found ;  but  the  formation  may  be  with  con- 
fidence refened  to  the  cretaceous  series,  and  with  much  probability  to 
its  Fort  Pierre  subdivision.'  The  thickness  of  this  shale,  seen  at  the 
Heart  Mound  and  the  fish  trap  of  Pembina  River,  is  at  least  300  or  400 
feet;  but  it  i)robably  exceeds  this,  for  there  is  no  indication  that  these 
exposures  mark  its  upper  and  lower  limits.  Its  erod'^d  eastern  edge 
forms  the  long,  high  escarpment  of  the  second  Pembi»,.i  JMountain,  as 
the  eroded  border  of  the  Pendiiua  delta  forms  the  almost  equally  notable 
"first  mountain."  Till,  or  bowlder  clay,  containing  frequent  granitic 
bowlders,  up  to  5  or  even  8  feet  in  diameter,  covers  the  slnde,  so  that  it 
is  rarely  seen  excepting  in  the  se(;tions  cut  by  streams. 

'  This  reforcnco  lias  been  conlirmed  during  tlio  field  work  of  ISSO  by  tlio  discovery, 
in  tJio  shale  at  tlua  locality  and  in  its  contiiination  Hoiitliward  on  tlio  beadstroanis 
of  Parli Rivor,  of  Sca})hitesNicolh'(U.{M(n'tou),  Sraphllc.i  iioiloxim [Owiw),  liaciilUcs  omiltts 
(Say),  and  ISacuVttes  co;«j»ts8«s  (Say);  two  spocics  of  Inocvrnmux,  ono  of  wliicb  is  I. 
alius  (Mock),  or  near  that  species,  besides  other  lanicllihrauclis  nob  yeb  iilcntilied  ; 
and  the  toeth  of  (Islies,  ai)paront]y  Fachyrhhodus  laliiiicntaiii  (Copo)  and  Lamna  madfjei 
(Cope),  or  a  smaller  species,  with  a  vorteljral  boue,  perhaps  belonging  to  one  of  these. 


tU  from' 
on  the  I 

I,t.ig:3,| 

ng  esti- 
t'vom  the] 

[by  1>»'-  Q'j 
luiHtiuctlj 
ly  covered 
Vairio  love\ 
IxacUy  tbd 
^  level  \va* 
Id  level,  ot 

lull  i8l»^'it 
|eau  abovd, 

ps  of  Inn* 
draining 

L  of  Vis^hi 
lort  ou  tlM 
|aUol,ft»n 

in  J*Iound» 
Uncli  voy« 
i\x\»  luouft 


(465) 


Agasi 


a; 

Hi 

er 

gr 

mj 

tei 

iril 

on 

dej 

ele 

fori 

isla 

pra 

proj 

curr 

Alluvial 

Archeaa 

Assinibo 

Barrier  ( 

oj)i 

Bars  con 

Beaches  < 

conip 

couta 

typici 

chan^ 

«Ievaf 

(See 

Big  Stone 

War 

e'evati 

Bowlders  a 

Brown's  Va 

Buffalo  Riv 

Campbell  b 

uorthw) 

elevatio 

CLamberlin, 

on  eil'ect 

cited  . 

Coteaii  des  I 

t-'retaceoiis  si 

drift  gra 

fossils  of. 

Dawson,  G.  M 

ttry,  quot( 


INDEX. 


Page. 
Agassis,  Lake,  gravitation  toward  the  ice  sheet  the  prohable  cause  of  changed 

levels  of 9,18 

area  of 10,18 

named  in  memory  of  Louis  Agassiz.... 10 

erosion  by 11,24,29,30,31,50,53,63,66,73 

gravel  and  sand  forming  the  beaches  of 11,14,25,27,30,54,64 

marshy  tracts  along  the  margin  of 11,26.28,29 

terrace  marking  the  whore  of 11,22,24,50,69 

influence  on  the  deposition  of  the  glaci.al  drift 14 

outlet  of  glacial  River  Warren 14 

depth  ot 18 

elevation  during  formation  of  beaches 19,20,22,26,28,29,30,32,76 

forest  in  basin  of 19,33,35,53,59,63,72,76 

islands  of 19,28,58,64,66,68 

prairie  t\ "'strict  of 19, 55, 63 

proport  ',.!  u  '  limestone  in  gravel  of  beaches  of 27,30,38,43,46,76,77 

currents:..  ..:g  shores  of 28,46,63,66,76 

Alluvial  deposits  in  the  Red  River  Valley 14 

Archean  rock  fragments  in  the  drift 46,61,71,72,76,78 

Assiniboine  River,  glacial  lake  in  basin  of 74 

Barrier  of  Lake  Agassiz,  formed  by  the  receding  ice  sheet 10, 16, 18 

opinion  of  G.  K.Warren 15,18 

Bars  connecting  islands  of  Lake  Agassiz 28,58,67 

Beaches  of  Lake  Agassiz - 10 

composed  of  gravel  and  Band 11, 14, 25. 27, 30, 54^64,  70 

containing  no  bowlders 11,30 

typical  section  of 11 

changes  in  tlio  relative  levels  of 16, 17 

elevations  of  crests  of 20 

{See  Campbell,  Herman,  McCanleyville,  Milnor,  and  Norcross beaches.) 
Big  Stone  Lake,  caused  by  partial  silting  up  of  the  channel  of  the  River 

Warren 15 

elevation  and  extent 15 

Bowlders  and  bowlder  clay 11,27,29,30.31,38,40,42,43,49,57,61,62,67,72,73 

Brown's  Valley  eroded  by  the  River  Warren 15,75 

Buffalo  River,  delta  of ; 29 

Campbell  beach 12,76 

northward  and  eastward  ascent  of 17, 18,20 

elevation  of  Lake  Agassiz  during  formation  of 19,20 

Chamberlin,  T.  C,  letter  of  transmittal 7 

on  elfects  of  weight  and  temperature  of  the  ice  sheet  on  the  earth's  crust, 

cited 18 

Cotean  des  Prairies 14,39,42 

Cretaceous  shales  of  Pembina  Mountain 70,72,78 

drift  gravel  and  sand  derived  from 60, 61, 62, 64, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 76, 77 

fossils  of 79 

Dawson,  Q.  M.,  description  of  Pembina  Mountain  on  the  international  bound- 
ary, quoted 78 

(407)  81 


82 


INDEX. 


Delta  deposits  in  tbo  margin  of  Lake  Agassiz 24,29,35,40,4:1^,74 

Drift,  glacial,  deposition  of,  in  Lake  Agassiz 10, 14 

thickness  of 13 

niodiiicd,  bordering  tlie  Herman  beach 40 

Dunes  in  vicinity  of  the  Lightning's  Nest  and  northward  to  the  Wild  Rico 

River,  Dakota 39,40 

Dunes  of  Sand  Hill  River 33 

Dunes  of  Sheyenne  River , 42 

Elk  and  Golden  Valleys Il,ri7,(')4 

Elm  River,  Herman  beach  near 50 

Erosion,  preglacial , 13, 14,78 

Erosion  by  Lake  Agassiz 11,24,29,30,31,50,53,02,06,73 

Fargo  and  Soutlnvostern  Railroad,  elevation  at  Sheldon 44 

Forest  River,  Herman  beach  near 00,07 

Fort  Pierre  shales  of  Pembina  Mountain 79 

Fossil  shells  and  remains  of  vegetation  in  alluvial  deposits  of  the  Red  River 

Valley 14 

Fossils  of  the  cretaceous  shale  of  Pembina  Mountain 79 

Gilbert,  G.  K.,  on  eft'ecta  of  weight  and  temperature  of  the  ice  oheet  on  the 

earth's  crust,  cited 18 

Glacial  currents 70 

Golden  Lake,  Herman  beach  near 54 

Golden  Valley 11,02,08,70 

Goose  River,  Hernmn  beach  near  bninches  of 52,r)4,5() 

Gravitation  towiud  the  ice  sheet,  probable  cause  of  changed  levels  of  Lake 

Agassiz 0,18 

Heart  Mound,  outlier  of  Cretaceous  shale  on  Pembina  Mountain 78 

Herman  beach,  general  description  of 10 

elevation  of  Lake  Agassiz  during  formation  ot....U,  19,20,22,20,28,29,30,32,70 

extent  explored ..11, 10.  17 

interruptions  of  the  beach  ridge , 11,22,24,29 

northward  and  eastward  ascent  of 10,17,20 

in  Minnesota,  from  Lake  Traverse  east  to  Herman.. 21 

from  Herman  north  to  the  Red  Ri vir 23 

from  the  Red  River  north  to  Muskoda 24 

from  Muskoda  north  to  the  Wild  Rice  River 30 

from  the  WiUi  Rice  River  north  to  Mai)le  Lake  34 

in  Dakota,  from  Lake  Traverst)  northwest  to  Milnor 38 

from  l.lilnor  north  to  Sheldon ,..„ 42 

from  Sheldon  north  to  the  Northern  Pacilic  Railroad 45 

from  the  Nortliern  Pacilic  Railroad  north  to  Galesburg 48 

from  Galesburg  north  to  Larinmro    51 

west  of  the  Elk  and  Golden  Valleys 57 

cast  of  the  Elk  and  Golden  Valleyg 64 

from  Garder  north  to  the  Ton«iio  River 72 

in  vicinity  of  tli.;  Pembina  River 74 

Hind,  H.  Y.,  report  of,  cited. 74 

Ice  sheet,  recession  of 10,18,40 

drainag«>  from  final  nu>ltiug  of 15 

northern  barrier  of  Lake  i\^raasiz 10, 18 

effects  on  the  eaith's  crust  of  weight  and  temperature  of 18 

gravitation  toward,  causing  changes  in  relative  levels  of  Lnko  Agassiz.  18 

currents  of , 70 

(408) 


n 


i 


i 


\ 


Isla 
Itas 
Lac 

Lan^ 

Larii 

Levo, 
Level 
l-ight 
Lignii 
WcCai 

6l< 

no 
Wamm 
Maple 
Maple . 
ilarsh, 
Miiuor 
^li«nes( 
Winnesf 
Moorhos 
^loraino 
*^ounds, 

blouse  <)| 
^rU8ko(i;j 

■Mustiuk; 

Ntjwberrj 

tiai 

^^orcro,s.s  1 

north 

elevat 

^'orthern  ] 

^'orfIi(.rn  I 

Outi,.(;  of  J 

Owen,  J).  J 

I'allis,.r,  Jo 

i'f"k  Rivor 

^OSNiJ.s  ( 

secoiui, 

HCCOlKi, 

^'•'inhina  Hi 

'ish  trap 

l^rairic  disfj 

i^'ed  River  <,/ 

*''e^.•^i<)| 

Heniiati 

^''•■<1  li'ivei  Vti 

'akes  c)o  i 

''•••ustrint 
Saint  Paul,  u 


INDEX. 


83 


Page. 


Islands  of  Lake  Agassiz ,19,28,58,64,66,08 


13 


I, 


I 

I) 

8 

?, 

W 

\u 

7'J 

14 

70 

18 
70 
54 

i8,70 

->4,r)6 


i»,lB 


15 

74 

64 


10, 14 
13 


Itasca  Lake,  profile  from  Moorbead  to 

Lac  qui  Parle,  caused  l)y  partial  silting  up  of  the  chanuol  of  the  River 

Warren - 

Lang's  Valley,  course  of  glacial  river  oiitMowiug  from  tlie  Souris  basin  to 

Perabi'na  River ••-• 

Lariraore,  Herman  beaches  near ,.- - 

Level,  changes  in  the  relations  of  surfaces  oi , -  .  • 9, 16, 19, 20 

Leveling,  elevations  of  beaches  determined  by 9,12, 16 

Lightning's  (or  Thunder's)  Nest ^J^ 

Lignite  in  gravel  of  the  Pembina  delta "'' 

McCauleyviile  beach - 12,76 

elevation  of  Lake  Agassiz  Qtiriag  formatioi^  of 19,20 

northward  and  eastward  ascent  of 17,18,20 

Mammoth,  fossil  bones  of,  in  till,  beneath  the  Herman  beach 49 

Maple  Lake,  beaches  in  vicinity  of 16,37 

Maple  Kivcr,  Herman  beach  near.... '^^ 

Marsh,  tracts  of,  along  the  margin  of  Lake  Agassiz 11,26,28,29 

Miluor  beach ■- 41,42,43,44,53 

Minnesota,  Geological  ami  Natural  History  Survey  of,  cited 9,74 

Minnesota  River,  outlet  of  Lake  Agassiz  along  present  course  of 

Moorhead,  proiile  from  Itasca  Lake  to 

Moraines,  terminal - 40,42,57,61 

Mounds,  aboriginal,  on  aud  near  the  Hernr.in  beach.. ..24,43,66,  58,72 

Mouse  or  SouriH  River,  glacial  lake  in  basin  of 74 

Mimkoda,  delta  of  Builalo  River  near ■- 29 

Mustinka  River,  Herman  beach  near '-^1 

Newberry,  J.  S.,  opinion  of,  respecting  fovmorly  bij;:hor  lovels  of  the  Lauren- 

tiau  lakes , - • 

Norcro.s.s  bench ■ W,  30, 31, 33, 38, 74, 76 

uoithward  aud  eastward  ascent  of 17,20 

elevation  ot  Lake  Agassiz  during  formation  of 19,20 

Northern  Pacific,  Fergus  Falls  and  P.lack  Hills  Ruilroad,  elevations  of .. 41 

Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  elevations  of 30,48 

Outlet  of  Lake  Aga.^siz - - ^"^ 

Owen,  D.  D.,  on  first  Pembina  Mountain ^ '7 

Taliiscr,  John,  on  the  Pembina  '1-  U»  ^  77 

Park  River,  Herman  beach  iumi    >f,..iches  of  ..    62,68,72 

fossils  of  cretaceous  shal*  on  head  streams  of '9 

Pembina  Mountain,  first,  del(;i  of  Pembina  River 76 

second,  contour  duo  Ut  preglacial  erosion 

second,  escRcpment  o€  cretaceous  shale 72,74 

TVmliiiia  Kivcr  /lellaof,  and  Herman  beaches  near 

lish  t  rap  of 

Prairie  district  of  Lake  Agassia  ... 
Red  River  of  the  North,  channel  of 

elev  .'Uioiks  of 

Herman  beach  near 

Red  River  Valley 10,12,32 

lakes  on  the  plain  of 13,25,40,41,45 

lilt  ustrine  and  alluvial  deposits  of  stratified  clay  in  and  allnvial 14 

Saint  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Manit.,ba  Railway,  elevations  of 21,23,27,34,50,57, 

64,()i3,70 

(-iC'.l) 


14 

78 
74 
78 
19, 55,  (53 
13 
24 


84 


INDEX. 


Sand  Hill  River,  Herman  beach,  delta,  and  dunes,  nf  ar 

Sandhills 35,39, 

Sheyenne  River,  Herman  beach,  delta,  and  dunes,  near.... 42, 

elevations  of 

Slougns  in  the  Red  River  Valley 13,24,25,26, 

Souris  or  Moiise  River,  glacial  lake  in  basin  of 

Spit  or  hook  connected  with  the  Herman  beach 

Taylor  Lake,  Herman  beach  and  dunes  near.... 

Terrace  marking  the  shore  of  Lake  Agassiz 11,22,24, 

Thunder's  (or  Lightning's)  Nest 

Till,  commonly  adjoining  the  beaches  of  Lake  Agassiz 

forming  the  surface  ou  much  of  the  area  of  Lake  Ag;i3siz 

Tongue  River,  delta  and  Herman  beaches  near 

Topography,  grand  features  of,  due  to  preglacial  erosion 

Traverse,  Lake,  caused  by  partial  silting  up  of  the  chauuel  of  the  River  War- 


ren. 


elevation  and  extent 

Herman  beach  near 

Turtle  River,  Herman  beach  near  branches  of 

Upper  or  Herman  beach.     {See  Herman  beach.) 

Warren,  G.  K. ,  survey  of  the  Minnesota  Valley 

opinion  of,  respecting  the  northern  barrier  of  Luke  Agassiz 

Warren,  River,  outlet  of  Lalce  Agassiz 

named  in  memory  of  G.  K.  Warren 

Wells,  sections  shown  by 39, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 53, 60, 6--*,  04,  73, 

White  Earth  Agency 

Wild  Rico  River,  Herman  beach  near  South  Branch  of 

Miunesot.a,  Herman  beach  near 

Dakota,  Herman  beach  and  dunes  near. 

Wincnell,  Horace  V.,  assistant 


Winchell,  N.  H.,  ■work  done  in  Minnesota  under  direction  of 

opinion  of,  respecting  the  northern  barrier  of  Lake  Agassiz. 

Winds,  producing  shore  currents 

forming  dunes 

Winnipeg,  Lake,  elevation  of 

present  representative  of  Lake  Agassiz 

Young,  Robert  H.,  assistant 

(470) 


„..3.5, 


Page. 
35 

40,42 

43,44 
43 

28,40 
74 
46 
40 

50,69 
40 
11 

13,14 
74 
13 

15 

15 

21,38 

5d,  (')5 


14,  ir, 

15,  IS 
14, 15 

i:. 

74,75,7(1 
14,  3;i 

:5;i 

40,41 

9 

9 

10 

28, 40 

39, 40, 42 

10 

14 

9 


f 


m 


i  ^ 


m 


air 


(3E    13ft.    APUb    C.    1 


33001^    0 


0 


■*-   fj 


SIGN  BOOK  CARD 

AND  LEAVE  AT 

CHARGING  DESK 

IF   BOOK   13  TO   BE   USED 

OUT   OF   THE 

LIBRARY    BUILDING 


